title: Cellular electrophysiologic mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias.
abstract: Cardiac arrhythmias are caused by alterations in the electrophysiologic properties of the cardiac cells, which affect the characteristics of the transmembrane potentials. The electrophysiologic properties that cause arrhythmias are automaticity, triggered activity, and reentrant excitation. Each of these mechanisms is described in terms of the characteristics of the transmembrane potentials and how these influence the appearance of the arrhythmia on the electrocardiogram.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabo
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D011690:Purkinje Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000503:physiopathology