Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Sinus rhythm refers to the normal rhythm of the heart produced by electrical impulses originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node. This node, located in the right atrium, acts as the heart's natural pacemaker. The cardiac muscle cells themselves possess intrinsic rhythmicity, meaning they can contract rhythmically without external nerve stimulation.12345

The heart's electrical activity involves a coordinated wave of depolarization and repolarization that spreads through specialized conduction tissues, ensuring the atria contract before the ventricles. This process, recorded as an electrocardiogram, maintains an efficient heartbeat, typically around 60 times per minute under resting conditions. The rate can be influenced by the autonomic nervous system.53

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.