Optimal cardiac function depends on proper timing of excitation and contraction in various
regions of the heart, as well as on appropriate heart rate. This is accomplished via …

The heart is vital for biological function in almost all chordates, including humans. It beats
continually throughout our life, supplying the body with oxygen and nutrients while removing …

The heart automaticity is a fundamental physiological function in higher organisms. The
spontaneous activity is initiated by specialized populations of cardiac cells generating …

artery (Figure 2B), although the relationship to the artery varies from individual to individual.
8 The nodal cells are set in a matrix of fibrous tissue, with a relatively discrete boundary …

The sinoatrial node initiates the heartbeat and controls the rate and rhythm of contraction,
thus serving as the pacemaker of the heart. Despite the crucial role of the sinoatrial node in …

The sinoatrial node is the primary pacemaker of the heart. Nodal dysfunction with aging,
heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and even endurance athletic training can lead to a wide variety …

The generation of the mammalian heartbeat is a complex and vital function requiring
multiple and coordinated ionic channel activities. The functional role of low-voltage activated …

Even though sequencing of the mammalian genome has led to the discovery of a large
number of ionic channel genes, identification of the molecular determinants of cellular …

It is now over 100years since the discovery of the cardiac conduction system, consisting of
three main parts, the sinus node, the atrioventricular node and the His–Purkinje system. The …

The gene SCN5A encodes the main cardiac sodium channel Na V 1.5. This channel
predominates the cardiac sodium current, I Na, which underlies the fast upstroke of the …