EL 84's, how do they work exactly?

so i just gently smashed one with a hammer and took it apart.
as far as parts go, heres what i found:
the heater surrounded by cathode surrounded by a tiny grid, surrounded by a medium grid
surrounded by a large grid and finally the plate.
i understand a triode, its extreemely easy, but can anyone explain
in a nutshell how 3 grids work?
also, is there any hazardous materials i should be worried about being
in contact with?
any help apprecieated

No hazardous metals you need to worry about. They stopped making them out of the highly hazardous erronium q36 years ago. :lol:

I studied tube theory back while I was in college. I remember how a basic triode works, but it's been far too long for me to remember how a pentode works.

**** i was hoping to produce mutants for children.....
oh well, i guess when me and the woman decide to have kids they will
just have to be PHYSICALLY normal....
oh well.

My kids have to pretty much rely on the same thing that made me a mutant. Emotional abuse from my siblings.