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Anatomic and Histopathologic Characteristics of the Conductive Tissues of the Heart

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Electrical Diseases of the Heart

Abstract

The chapter deals with the anatomic and histopathologic characteristics of the Conductive Tissues of the Heart. In the first part, the authors treat the normal anatomy, histology and ultrastructural aspects of the conduction system, including the sinus node, the atrioventricular node and the internodal and interatrial myocardium with some historical notes on the discovery of these structures by early studies at the light microscope. In the second part, the pathological substrates of sino-atrial block, atrioventricular block, and ventricular preexcitation syndrome are extensively reviewed. Both congenital and acquired (inflammatory, degenerative, neoplastic, iatrogenic) diseases underlying conduction system disturbances are herein discussed in terms of gross and histological features.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathological Anatomy, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Via A. Gabelli, 61, 35121, Padova, Italy

    Cristina Basso MD, PhD, Stefania Rizzo MD & Gaetano Thiene MD, FRCP Hon.

  2. Cardiac Morphology Unit, Children’s Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, SW3 6NP, UK

    Siew Yen Ho PhD, FRCPath

Authors
  1. Cristina Basso MD, PhD
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  2. Siew Yen Ho PhD, FRCPath
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  3. Stefania Rizzo MD
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  4. Gaetano Thiene MD, FRCP Hon.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gaetano Thiene MD, FRCP Hon. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Internal Medicine, UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson Pl. 1, New Brunswick, 08903-0019, New Jersey, USA

    Ihor Gussak

  2. , Gordon K. Moe Scholar, Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Bleecker Street, Utica, 13501-1787, New York, USA

    Charles Antzelevitch

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Basso, C., Ho, S.Y., Rizzo, S., Thiene, G. (2013). Anatomic and Histopathologic Characteristics of the Conductive Tissues of the Heart. In: Gussak, I., Antzelevitch, C. (eds) Electrical Diseases of the Heart. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4881-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4881-4_4

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