Why Can the Heart Still Beat Outside the Body?

Ever wondered why and how the heart keeps beating even if it’s separated from the body?

If yes, you’re not alone. There’s a good chance that you have no idea of the inner workings of the heart, and that’s pretty normal.
Not everyone can have a bachelor’s degree in cardiology, right?
Now, let’s take a step back to the question of the day.

The thing is, the heart can actually beat independently of the brain as long as it has oxygen.
It’s however important to note that the heart will stop beating the moment all bodily systems stop working — this typically happens shortly after brain death.

Still a bit confused? If yes, you’ll want to stick around for a longer explanation — let’s dive in!
The very first thing you should know is that the heart is not regulated by the brain — the regulatory mechanisms actually lie within the heart itself.

So how does it work?
Well, the heart contains a special group of cells known as the pacemaker cells or SA node — they fire at regular intervals and cause the heart to beat.

It’s important to note that every heartbeat is triggered by an electrical pacemaker; a group of cells in the heart that’s capable of generating electrical activity.

These cells cause electrical impulses to spread throughout the heart thus making it contract and pump blood.

Note: the SA node is the largest natural pacemaker of the heart that controls the heart rate.

You should know that the brain actually regulates the rate of heartbeat, but it doesn’t send the signals that trigger heartbeat in itself.

That said, the SA node remains functional even after disconnection.
The cells still send the impulse down the AV node and Purkinje fibers which eventually spreads throughout the cardiac musculature causing the heart to beat.

This will continue until the ATP and oxygen get depleted.
Or in simpler words, the heart keeps pumping until the cells run out of energy and stop.

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