How does a heart still beat when it is donated/transplanted?

Answer 1

It doesn't it's put on ice to keep it cool then it's transported to where ever it is going and then transplanted into the transplant patient then it is jump started.

Answer 2

Well while it is being transplanted it isn't beating. As for when the heart is in the new person the brain still send signals to it to beat. The heart doesn't care if the signal comes from the old host or the new one it's just getting a signal to beat

Answer 3

A heart is just a pump that your body stimulates to contract and expand through electric/chemical signals. When it's disconnected from the body, it doesn't move, kind of like a car part that you have to install and hookup to electric wires.

BTW rat1head is wrong. He needs better reading comprehension skills. The heart beats while it's still in the donor, but not during transport. It has nothing to pump.

Answer 4

the heart is d only one organ in d human body dat has its own conduction system, which means it has its own pacemaker,i.e. one specialised group of cells dat has d capability of automaticity, rhythmicity, conduction n contractility. with these properties it helps d heart beat even in d absence of any external influence by the nervous system, although dey may effect in d performance of d heart in eithr stimulatory or inhibitory way.
now when d heart is excised frm d donor, although its own blood supply is cut off, which is d coronary circulation, but its pacemaker is intact which is situated inside d right atrium just below d opening of superior vena cava. d donor heart as soon as it is removed is immediately cooled down to reduce d oxygen demand of d heart, also a second team of docs r always at work on d recepients side to remove d defected heart and is soon tranplanted , though post-transplantion , a stringent process intiates to monitor d donated heart for compatibllty and rejection.

Answer 5

Yes.

"The donor's heart continues to beat independently and may be supported by dopamine."