Cardiac Electrophysiological Dynamics from the Cellular Level to the Organ Level. (January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sato, Daisuke; Clancy, Colleen E.
• Is Part Of: Biomedical engineering and computational biology. Volume 5(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-01
• Subjects: Cardiac dynamics -- restitution -- alternans -- calcium -- action potential -- mathematical model -- cardiac electrophysiology -- arrhythmia; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Computational biology -- Periodicals; Biomedical Engineering; Computational Biology; Biomedical engineering; Computational biology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.2805
• DOI: 10.4137/BECB.S10960
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1179-5972

Abstract

Cardiac alternans describes contraction of the ventricles in a strong-weak-strong-weak sequence at a constant pacing frequency. Clinically, alternans manifests as alternation of the T-wave on the ECG and predisposes individuals to arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. In this review, we focus on the fundamental dynamical mechanisms of alternans and show how alternans at the cellular level underlies alternans in the tissue and on the ECG. A clear picture of dynamical mechanisms underlying alternans is important to allow development of effective anti-arrhythmic strategies.