What is the normal rate of the Purkinje network?

The Purkinje network is responsible for conducting electrical impulses to the ventricles of the heart, facilitating coordinated contractions. The normal firing rate of the Purkinje fibers is typically in the range of 20-40 beats per minute (bpm). This lower rate is due to the Purkinje fibers serving as a backup pacemaker when higher pacemaker sites, such as the sinoatrial (SA) node and atrioventricular (AV) node, fail or fail to transmit signals adequately.

The Purkinje network’s slower rate is crucial in maintaining basic heart function in situations where more dominant pacemakers are compromised. Understanding the role and normal rate of the Purkinje network is essential in the broader context of cardiac conduction and rhythms, particularly when assessing potential arrhythmias or conduction disorders.

The other options reflect the normal rates of the SA node and AV node rather than the Purkinje fibers. The SA node typically functions at 60-100 bpm, the AV node at 40-60 bpm, and higher rates around 80-120 bpm are not characteristic of the Purkinje system. Thus, recognizing that the Purkinje network operates at a much lower intrinsic rate helps clarify its role within the heart's pac