Which organ is most commonly damaged by electrical current?

• A. The liver
• B. The heart
• C. The brain
• D. The kidneys

Answer: (B)

Electrical current disrupts the heart’s electrical system, which coordinates the heartbeat. When current passes through the chest, it can trigger dangerous rhythm disturbances, especially ventricular fibrillation, where the heart quivers instead of pumping effectively. That loss of coordinated rhythm stops blood flow and can be fatal unless defibrillation restores a normal rhythm quickly. Because the heart’s function depends on those precise electrical signals, it is particularly vulnerable to electrical energy, making it the most commonly damaged organ in electrical exposures. Other injuries like burns or nerve damage can occur, but they’re less likely to produce immediate life-threatening consequences than a rhythm disturbance in the heart. The exact risk depends on current magnitude, duration, the path it takes through the body, and whether the current is alternating or direct, with alternating current posing a higher risk of inducing dangerous heart rhythms.