In a heart that's normal, your rhythm will star at the SA node, where it "fired", then an electrical signal spreads throughout the left and right atrias, causing heart contractions. This signal eventually travels to the AV node which bridges the signal from the Atrias to the ventricles. So from here the signal travels through ventricular walls, and they contract.
However, in a person's heart with WPW, your normal conduction pathway also houses some extra pathways known as "accessory pathways". They cause conduction impulses to travel faster than is normal and conduct impulses in both directions. So your signal from your SA node takes these accessory pathways as a "short cut" to travel quickly around the heart. The result is an unusually quick heart rate.
There is a great picture representation of the heart rate difference between a normal heart and heart of a person with WPW at : WPW picture click here
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Here is a link to more information about the genetics of Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome that was prepared by our genetic counselor and which has links to some useful resources for those dealing with this condition: http://www.accessdna.com/condition/Wolff_Parkinson_White_Syndrome/397. There is also a phone number listed if you need to speak to a genetic counselor by phone. I hope it helps. Thanks, AccessDNA
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