How does the heart produce electrical impulses?

The heart generates electrical impulses primarily through cells located in the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is known as the heart's natural pacemaker. These specialized cells possess the unique ability to initiate action potentials spontaneously, setting the rhythm for heart contractions. The SA node is located in the right atrium and facilitates the coordinated contraction of the heart muscle by sending these impulses to other heart cells, thereby regulating heart rate and ensuring efficient blood pumping throughout the body.

In contrast, while nerve endings play a role in modulating heart rate, they do not generate the electrical impulses themselves. Muscle contractions are a response to these electrical signals, and blood flow is the result of these contractions rather than a source of the electrical impulses. This distinction is essential for understanding how the heart's electrical system functions to maintain normal cardiovascular dynamics.