A method for teaching genesis of the electrocardiogram and simulating effects of morphologic and conduction defects
Hamlin, R.L.; Smith, C.R.; Bhagat, P.K.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 31(12): 2289-2300
1970
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 5505150 Document Number: 29113
A highly schematic sagittal trans-section of the heart was constructed, and assumptions were made on the morphology of the heart's components, the mode of cardiac activation and the velocity of propagation within the tissues. It was possible to predict when any point within the heart was activated. Knowing the geometry of boundaries between resting and active myocardium at 5-msec, intervals of cardiac activation, and from the relationship between them and points on the body surface, the magnitude and signs of potentials at those points could be predicted. Forms of P and QRS thus predicted for points on the body surface of the normal dog were very similar to those recorded. On the basis of perturbations in the model, the form of the body surface electrocardiogram to be expected with various morphological defects could be proposed. The genesis of the terminal portion of QRS, often polyphasic in the dog, was demonstrated.