Heart rate

The heart rate is the number of contractions of the heart in one minute. The adult human heart beats at about 70 beats per minute, but this varies between people.

Table of contents

1 Control of heart rate
2 Tachycardia
3 Bradycardia
4 Heart rates in different animals

Control of heart rate

The heart contains cardiac pacemakers that spontaneously cause the heart to beat. These can be controlled by the autonomic nervous system and circulating adrenaline.