Sinoatrial Node
Sinoatrial Node
The Sinoatrial Node (SA node) is a group of cells located in the right atrium of the heart. These cells are responsible for initiating the electrical impulses that dictate the heart rate, making the SA node the natural pacemaker of the heart.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The SA node is located in the superior part of the right atrium, near the opening of the Superior vena cava. It is a crescent-shaped structure that is approximately 15 mm in length and 5 mm in width.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the SA node is to generate electrical impulses that initiate the heartbeat. These impulses are generated at a rate that is influenced by the autonomic nervous system, with the sympathetic nervous system increasing the rate and the parasympathetic nervous system decreasing it.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Dysfunction of the SA node can lead to a number of arrhythmias, including sick sinus syndrome and sinus bradycardia. Treatment for these conditions often involves the implantation of an artificial pacemaker.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Sinoatrial Node Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
