Atrioventricular nodal conduction and refractoriness.
The AV node is ideally suited to act as a weigh station between atrium and ventricle. It is believed that the latter function is achieved by virtue of nodal conduction being dependent on slow channel conduction probably carried by calcium currents. The AV nodal structure allows for encouragement of decremental conduction but also allows for two or more pathways or collection of cells which may trigger reentrant arrhythmias.
Scheinman
M M
MM
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology