Physiology of Canine Intraventricular Conduction and Endocardial Excitation
Abstract
The sequence of conduction through the intraventricular conducting system and endocardial muscle was studied by microelectrode mapping of large areas of isolated canine ventricular tissue. We found that most of the endocardium of the right ventricular free wall is activated simultaneously whereas the left endocardial muscle is activated in an apex-to-base sequence. Right septal activation is from apex to base, and the left septum is activated first at the junction of the middle and lower thirds of the septum and then as a bidirectional wave front toward the apex and the base. These right-left differences occur because the sites of impulse input into muscle on the right encompass the entire free wall, base of the papillary muscle, and the lowermost septum, and on the left are primarily limited to the lower ventricular cavity, lower septum, and bases of the papillary muscles. These patterns of left ventricular excitation relate to the presence of a functionally continuous ring of conducting tissue formed by a merger of the major divisions of the left bundle branch on the upper left ventricular free wall. The "ring" itself is electrophysiologically isolated from muscle, but connects to a network of subendocardial conducting tissue extending to the apex and having input to muscle only in its lower portions.
eLetters(0)
eLetters should relate to an article recently published in the journal and are not a forum for providing unpublished data. Comments are reviewed for appropriate use of tone and language. Comments are not peer-reviewed. Acceptable comments are posted to the journal website only. Comments are not published in an issue and are not indexed in PubMed. Comments should be no longer than 500 words and will only be posted online. References are limited to 10. Authors of the article cited in the comment will be invited to reply, as appropriate.
Comments and feedback on AHA/ASA Scientific Statements and Guidelines should be directed to the AHA/ASA Manuscript Oversight Committee via its Correspondence page.