Which organ is most susceptible to life-threatening electric shock?

• A. Lungs
• B. Brain
• C. Heart
• D. Liver

Answer: (C)

Electric current affects organs most by how it travels through the body and whether it disrupts the heart’s electrical system. The heart relies on its own coordinated electrical signals to beat steadily. When current passes through the chest, it can abruptly interrupt this rhythm and cause ventricular fibrillation—chaotic, ineffective heartbeats that stop the heart from pumping blood. That sudden loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs can be life-threatening within moments, which is why the heart is the most dangerous target in an electric shock. Other organs like the lungs or brain can be affected too, but their failure is not as immediately fatal as a sudden, dangerous heart rhythm. The liver isn’t directly involved in the rapid electrical control of circulation, so it’s less likely to produce an immediate, life-threatening outcome from a shock.