title: Simulation of biatrial conduction via different pathways during sinus rhythm with a detailed human atrial model.
abstract: In order to better understand biatrial conduction, investigate various conduction pathways, and compare the differences between isotropic and anisotropic conductions in human atria, we present a simulation study of biatrial conduction with known/assumed conduction pathways using a recently developed human atrial model. In addition to known pathways: (1) Bachmann's bundle (BB), (2) limbus of fossa ovalis (LFO), and (3) coronary sinus (CS), we also hypothesize that there exist two fast conduction bundles that connect the crista terminalis (CT), LFO, and CS. Our simulation demonstrates that use of these fast conduction bundles results in a conduction pattern consistent with experimental data. The comparison of isotropic and anisotropoic conductions in the BB case showed that the atrial working muscles had small effect on conduction time and conduction speed, although the conductivities assigned in anisotropic conduction were two to four times higher than the isotropic conduction. In conclusion, we suggest that the hypothesized intercaval bundles play a significant role in the biatrial conduction and that myofiber orientation has larger effects on the conduction system than the atrial working muscles. This study presents readers with new insights into human atrial conduction.
authors.affiliation: College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Dong-dong
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ying-lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Guo-fa
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Shou
authors.forename: Pei-feng
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Heng-gui
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-song
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology*; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D003198:Computer Simulation; D054326:Coronary Sinus / Q000502:physiology; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000166:cytology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000502:physiology