What does heart polarization mean?

Heart polarization refers to the electrical charges that exist within the heart. The heart's electrical system consists of specialized cells called nodal cells, which are responsible for generating and conducting electrical impulses throughout the heart muscle. These nodal cells have a negative charge on the inside and a positive charge on the outside.

During a heartbeat, an electrical impulse is generated by the sinoatrial (SA) node, located in the right atrium. This impulse then travels through the atrioventricular (AV) node, located between the atria and ventricles, and then to the bundle of His, which divides into the left and right bundle branches. These branches deliver the impulse to the ventricular muscle fibers, causing them to contract and pump blood.

The heart's electrical polarization is essential for the coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. When the SA node generates an impulse, it depolarizes, meaning that the inside of the cell becomes less negative and more positive. This change in electrical potential causes the impulse to spread to neighboring cells, creating a wave of depolarization that travels through the heart. As the wave of depolarization reaches the ventricular muscle fibers, it causes them to contract.

The electrical repolarization of the heart occurs after the contraction phase. During repolarization, the electrical charges return to their original state, with the inside of the cells becoming negative again and the outside positive. This process allows the heart muscle to relax and prepare for the next contraction.

Overall, heart polarization is a fundamental process that ensures the proper electrical conduction and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle, thereby enabling efficient pumping of blood throughout the body.