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Molecular Basis of Impulse Generation and Propagation

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Heart Rhythm Disorders

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Abstract

In 1952, Hodgkin and Huxley reported their findings on the channel theory and the gating system in the squid axon, by demonstrating how channels open and close and how ions pass through open channels. In this chapter the author discusses the ionic basis of the cardiac action potential, the role of sodium channels, voltage-gated calcium channels, voltage-gated potassium channels, the genesis of the funny current of the sinus node, and gap junction channels. Major advances in basic electrophysiology of the conducting system including cloning and sequencing of the genes responsible for ion channels hold the futuristic potential of genetic manipulation in the treatment of hereditary as well as acquired cardiac arrhythmias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    J. Anthony Gomes

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  1. J. Anthony Gomes
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Correspondence to J. Anthony Gomes .

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Gomes, J.A. (2020). Molecular Basis of Impulse Generation and Propagation. In: Heart Rhythm Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45066-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45066-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-45065-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-45066-3

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