Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CCT Practice Questions and Study Guide

The AV node, or atrioventricular node, plays a crucial role in the heart's electrical conduction system by serving as a gatekeeper between the atria and ventricles. Its primary function is to slow down the electrical impulses that travel from the atria to the ventricles. This delay is important because it ensures that the atria have sufficient time to contract and fully pump blood into the ventricles before those chambers begin to contract themselves.

By regulating the timing of electrical impulses, the AV node helps maintain an efficient rhythm of the heart, preventing rapid contractions that could lead to inefficient blood flow. This ability to modulate impulse speed is essential for coordinated heart function, making it a critical component of the cardiovascular system.

The other roles—alluding to impulse generation, direct transmission to the atria, or acting solely as a pacemaker—do not accurately reflect the AV node's specific functions since the sinoatrial (SA) node is primarily responsible for generating impulses and the conduction system as a whole orchestrates the heart's rhythm.