ISSN:
1522-9602
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Mathematics
Notes:
Abstract The concept of a one-way block, arising from a region of depressed tissue, has remained central to theories for cardiac arrhythmias. We show that both the geometry of a depressed region and spatial heterogeneities in depression are key factors for inducing such a block. By using an asymptotic approximation, known as the eikonal equation, to model qualitatively the movement of a depolarization wave-front down a Purkinje fibre bundle, we show how a one-way block in conduction may result from asymmetric constriction in the width of a depressed bundle. We demonstrate that this theory is valid for biologically relevant parameters and simulate a one-way block by numerically solving the eikonal approximation. We consider the case of non-uniform depression, where the planar travelling wave speed is spatially dependent. Here, numerical simulations indicate that such a spatial dependency may, in itself, be sufficient to produce a one-way block.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02461489
