
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
First degree AV block pathophysiology
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The atrioventricular node is a normal electrical pathway between the atria and ventricles and it is located in the right atrium. First-degree AV block pathogenesis can be attributed to an electrical conduction delay in the AV node or His-Purkinje system. First-degree AV block can be associated with normal QRS complex or wide QRS complex on the ECG.
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Physiology
- The atrioventricluar node is the normal electrical pathway between the atria and ventricles. It is located in the right atrium near to the tricuspid valve leaflet.
- The AV node receives blood supply from the right coronary artery in most of the population.
- The bundle of His is the electrical connection between the AV node to the interventricular septum. At the end of the septum, a bundle of His is divided into the right and left bundle branches to the ventricular walls.
Pathogenesis
- First-degree AV block broadly means the prolongation of the PR interval on the ECG with normal atrioventricular node function.
- First-degree AV block pathogenesis can be attributed to an electrical conduction delay in one of the following:[1]
- Atrioventricular node
- His-Purkinje system which is formed of both bundle of His and Purkinje fibers
- The conduction delay can be also in both the AV node and His-Purkinje system.
- One of the characteristics of first-degree AV block is that there are no beats skipped and it has a regular rhythm.
First-degree AV Block with Normal QRS Duration
First-degree AV block with normal QRS duration results from atrial or AV nodal delay.
First-degree AV Block with Wide QRS Complex
First-degree AV block with wide QRS complex most often results from delay in conduction in the bundle of His and in some patients, the AV node.
References
References
- ↑ Lewalter T, Pürerfellner H, Ungar A, Rieger G, Mangoni L, Duru F; et al. (2018). ““First-degree AV block-a benign entity?” Insertable cardiac monitor in patients with 1st-degree AV block reveals presence or progression to higher grade block or bradycardia requiring pacemaker implant”. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 52 (3): 303–306. doi:10.1007/s10840-018-0439-7. PMID 30105427.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohammed Salih, M.D., Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2], Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]


