CVS Practice Test 2026 - Free CVS Practice Questions and Study Guide

The internodal pathways are specialized conducting tissues found in the heart's conduction system that facilitate the rapid transmission of electrical impulses. These pathways are primarily composed of pacemaker cells and transitional cells.

Pacemaker cells are responsible for generating and propagating electrical impulses that coordinate the heart's rhythm. These cells have the ability to initiate action potentials at regular intervals, thereby regulating heartbeat. Transitional cells assist in propagating the impulse from the sinoatrial (SA) node to the atrioventricular (AV) node, connecting the atrial conducting system to the ventricular conducting system effectively.

The other options do not accurately reflect the cellular composition of the internodal pathways. Contractile cells are primarily involved in the muscle contraction of the heart but do not participate in the conduction of electrical impulses. Neurotransmitter cells are not part of the cardiac conduction system and do not play a role in electrical conduction in the heart. Regular cardiomyocytes focus on contraction rather than leading the electrical conduction pathway. Thus, the combination of pacemaker and transitional cells defines the internodal pathways.