Normal activities of the heart are regulated intrinsically by specialised muscles, and hence the heart is called myogenic. A special neural centre in the medulla oblongata can moderate the cardiac function through Autonomic Nervous System. (ANS).
Neural signals through the sympathetic nerves can increase the rate of heart beat, the strength of ventricular contraction and thereby the cardiac output. Para sympathetic neural signals decrease the rate of heart beat, speed of conduction of action potential and thereby the cardiac output. Adrenal medullary harmones can also increase the cardiac out-put.
