Living Heart
One Heartbeat, Slowed Down
In less than a second, an electrical signal sweeps through the heart, the valves open and close, and blood is pumped to the lungs and the whole body. Watch that single beat in slow motion, and tap any part of the heart to learn what it does.
Educational schematic. A simplified heart, drawn as if facing the patient, so the patient’s right is on the left of the picture. It is here to explain, and it does not replace an examination or a consultation with a doctor.
Tap or drag along the ECG; tap the P, QRS and T waves
The sinus node fires and an electrical wave spreads across both atria (the P wave).
Guide
Tap any part
- Tap the heart: the chambers, valves, electrical nodes and vessels.
- Tap or drag the ECG to move through the beat yourself.
- Raise the heart rate and notice that mostly the resting phase gets shorter, not the contraction.
- Blue and red dots are oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood.
Educational schematic. A simplified heart, drawn as if facing the patient, so the patient’s right is on the left of the picture. It is here to explain, and it does not replace an examination or a consultation with a doctor.