bundle of His

anatomy

Also known as: atrioventricular bundle

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June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The bundle of His is a specialized group of muscle fibers in the heart responsible for conducting electrical impulses. Discovered by Swiss cardiologist Wilhelm His in 1893, these fibers run along the muscular partition between the heart's left and right chambers.1

The bundle of His plays a crucial role in the heart's rhythm by helping to communicate a single, coordinated contraction to all parts of the heart. It is part of the heart's specialized conduction system, which includes the sinoatrial node (the natural pacemaker), the atrioventricular node, and Purkinje fibers. This system ensures that electrical impulses generated by the pacemaker are rapidly and efficiently distributed throughout the heart, leading to a regular heartbeat.12

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Wilhelm His
…muscle fibres (known as the bundle of His) running along the muscular partition between the left and right chambers of the heart. He found that these fibres help communicate a single rhythm of contraction to all parts of the heart.
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…muscle fibres (known as the bundle of His) running along the muscular partition between the left and right chambers of the heart. He found that these fibres help communicate a single rhythm of contraction to all parts of the heart.
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pacemaker
…of conductive fibres called the bundle of His, which induces the contraction of the ventricles. When electrical conduction through the atrioventricular node or bundle of His is interrupted, the condition is called heart block. An artificial pacemaker may be employed temporarily until normal conduction returns or permanently to overcome the…
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…of conductive fibres called the bundle of His, which induces the contraction of the ventricles. When electrical conduction through the atrioventricular node or bundle of His is interrupted, the condition is called heart block. An artificial pacemaker may be employed temporarily until normal conduction returns or permanently to overcome the…
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cardiovascular disease
Determinants of cardiac rhythm
… to the atrioventricular node and bundle of His (known as the atrioventricular junctional tissue), through the bundle branches and Purkinje fibres (known as the ventricular conduction system), and into the ventricular muscle cells that ultimately generate cardiac output. The conduction system in the atria is poorly defined but clearly designed…
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… to the atrioventricular node and bundle of His (known as the atrioventricular junctional tissue), through the bundle branches and Purkinje fibres (known as the ventricular conduction system), and into the ventricular muscle cells that ultimately generate cardiac output. The conduction system in the atria is poorly defined but clearly designed…
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