Computer simulations of cardiac action potentials in two dimensions.
A novel method of calculation is presented which allows computer simulations of action potentials for a two-dimensional, planar reconstruction of the depolarization phase of a cardiac action potential to be followed through nonuniform tissue. The calculation is explicit in type and assumes an infinite, grounded extracellular region. A 70 by 70 point region is calculated swiftly on a PC/AT. Results show elliptical isochrones when slow and fast directions have different resistivities. The time derivative of Vm is, however, similar in both directions. Insertion of a test region of tissue with high resistance results in wave-like propagation of the A.P. around the 'bad' region.
Barach
J P
JP
Physics Department, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235.
D000200:Action Potentials; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D008433:Mathematics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology
D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium