Heart Block - Types

Types

Electrical conduction system of the heart
Isolated conduction system of the heart
Latin systema conducens cordis

A heart block can be a blockage at any level of the electrical conduction system of the heart (shown in the diagram on the right).

  • Blocks that occur within the sinoatrial node (SA node) are described as SA nodal blocks.
  • Blocks that occur within the atrioventricular node (AV node) are described as AV nodal blocks.
  • Blocks that occur below the AV node are known as infra-Hisian blocks (named after the bundle of His).
  • Blocks that occur within the left or right bundle branches are known as bundle branch blocks.
  • Blocks that occur within the fascicles of the left bundle branch are known as hemiblocks.

Clinically speaking, most of the important heart blocks are AV nodal blocks and infra-Hisian blocks.

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