Final answer:
The pacemaker of the heart is the sinoatrial (SA) node located near the right atrium, and the conducting system of the heart is made of specialized cardiac muscle tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pacemaker of the heart is the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located near the wall of the right atrium. This node is responsible for initiating the heart's rhythmical beating, known as sinus rhythm, by generating electrical signals that cause the atria to contract. The SA node sends these signals to the atrioventricular (AV) node, with a brief pause, to ensure the atria have emptied into the ventricles before the ventricles contract. The conducting system of the heart, which includes the SA node, AV node, bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers, is made up of specialized cardiac muscle tissues that facilitate the distribution of electrical impulses through the heart. Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is autorhythmic due to the presence of pacemaker cells and functions in a coordinated manner ensured by intercalated discs that connect cardiac muscle cells.