Which term describes the heart's ability to generate impulses spontaneously?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes the heart's ability to generate impulses spontaneously?

Autorhythmicity is the heart's ability to generate impulses spontaneously. This comes from specialized pacemaker cells in the heart's conduction system that continuously depolarize toward threshold without external triggers. They create a pacemaker potential due to a steady inward current (If), so they fire regular action potentials that set the heart's rhythm. The sinoatrial node is the primary pacemaker, initiating impulses that spread through the conduction system, with the atrioventricular node acting as a backup pathway if needed. The other terms describe aspects of rate or anatomy rather than the inherent ability to generate impulses on their own.

Autorhythmicity is the heart's ability to generate impulses spontaneously. This comes from specialized pacemaker cells in the heart's conduction system that continuously depolarize toward threshold without external triggers. They create a pacemaker potential due to a steady inward current (If), so they fire regular action potentials that set the heart's rhythm. The sinoatrial node is the primary pacemaker, initiating impulses that spread through the conduction system, with the atrioventricular node acting as a backup pathway if needed. The other terms describe aspects of rate or anatomy rather than the inherent ability to generate impulses on their own.

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