What is the typical intrinsic firing rate of the AV node?

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Multiple Choice

What is the typical intrinsic firing rate of the AV node?

Explanation:
The AV node acts as a backup pacemaker with its own intrinsic rhythm, slower than the primary pacemaker. Its baseline firing rate is about 40–60 beats per minute, which is why a junctional rhythm typically runs in that range when the SA node isn’t driving the heart. This pace is slower than the SA node’s usual 60–100 bpm, and faster than the Purkinje system, which paces around 20–40 bpm as a last-resort mechanism. So, the AV node’s intrinsic rate falls in the 40–60 bpm range.

The AV node acts as a backup pacemaker with its own intrinsic rhythm, slower than the primary pacemaker. Its baseline firing rate is about 40–60 beats per minute, which is why a junctional rhythm typically runs in that range when the SA node isn’t driving the heart. This pace is slower than the SA node’s usual 60–100 bpm, and faster than the Purkinje system, which paces around 20–40 bpm as a last-resort mechanism. So, the AV node’s intrinsic rate falls in the 40–60 bpm range.

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