Bundle branches

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Bundle Branches

The bundle branches, or Tawara branches, are part of the electrical conduction system of the heart that is responsible for the conduction of electrical impulses from the AV node to the Purkinje fibers. They play a crucial role in the coordinated contraction of the heart muscle, which is essential for effective pumping of blood.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The bundle branches are located in the interventricular septum and are divided into two main branches: the right bundle branch and the left bundle branch. The right bundle branch carries impulses to the right ventricle, while the left bundle branch carries impulses to the left ventricle. Each of these branches further divides into numerous smaller branches, or Purkinje fibers, which spread throughout the ventricular myocardium.

Physiology[edit | edit source]

The bundle branches receive electrical impulses from the AV node, which is located at the junction of the atria and ventricles. The AV node delays the impulses slightly to allow the atria to contract before the ventricles. The impulses then travel down the bundle branches and into the Purkinje fibers, causing the ventricles to contract and pump blood out of the heart.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Damage to or blockage of one or both bundle branches can lead to a condition known as bundle branch block. This can cause a delay or complete blockage of the electrical impulses traveling to the ventricles, leading to an abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia. Symptoms can include fainting, dizziness, or heart failure in severe cases. Treatment typically involves addressing the underlying cause of the blockage and may include medication, pacemaker implantation, or other interventions.

File:Conduction system of the heart without the Heart.svg
Conduction system of the heart, showing the bundle branches

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]



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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD