title: The effects of variations in conductivity and geometrical parameters on the electrocardiogram, using an eccentric spheres model.
abstract: The effects of variations in the volume conductor properties of the torso on the electrocardiogram were studied by means of a theoretical eccentric spheres model. The model includes a blood cavity, cardiac muscle layer, pericardium, lung region, skeletal muscle layer, and subcutaneous fat. The source of the field is a double-layer spherical cap located within the myocardium. The following effects regarding the electrocardiogram (ECG) potentials were determined: (1) blood augments the potential, but less than predicted by simpler published models; (2) in anemia, high potentials are expected, whereas in polycythemia, voltages are reduced; (3) abnormally low lung conductivity (emphysema) causes low surface potentials whose magnitude is controlled by the low conductivity skeletal muscle layer; (4) low voltages result both from low and high pericardial conductivities; (5) the surface potential increases with increasing myocardial conductivity; (6) low skeletal muscle conductivity (Pompe's disease) causes high surface potentials; (7) obesity lowers the potential only slightly; (8) a thick myocardium, protruding into the lung region, slightly augments the potential; (9) an increase in the thickness of the myocardium at the expense of the blood cavity causes a decrease in potential; (10) the potential increases with increasing heart size; and (11) the location of the heart within the torso has a very significant effect on the surface potential distribution.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008961:Models, Structural; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000502:physiology; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology*