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The Effects of the Thoracic Volume Conductor (Inhomogeneities) on the Electrocardiogram

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Pediatric and Fundamental Electrocardiography

Part of the book series: Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine ((DICM,volume 56))

Abstract

The electrical activity of cardiac muscle cells is projected to the surface of the torso by means of the intervening conducting medium. The surface potentials that are recorded as electrocardiograms reflect, therefore, the properties of both the heart electrical generators and the surrounding passive volume conductor. Since the goal of electrocardiography is to reconstruct cardiac electrical events from body surface potential data, understanding the role played by the torso volume conductor in determining the surface potential distribution is essential. The major part of this chapter deals with the results of a theoretical simulation in which the electrocardiographic volume conductor is represented by a spherical “heart” eccentrically located in a spherical “torso.” This idealized model permits a systematic study of the effects of the various torso compartments (inhomogeneities) on the electrocardiogram. Results of other theoretical and experimental studies, as well as electrocardiographic clinical observations are discussed in relation to the findings of the eccentric spheres model. The section dealing with the model simulations is preceded by a discussions of the electrical properties of the various torso inhomogeneities and their representation in terms of equivalent sources.

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Authors
  1. Yoram Rudy
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, 2101 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    Jerome Liebman M.D. (Professor of Pediatrics) (Professor of Pediatrics)

  2. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27706, USA

    Robert Plonsey Ph.D. (Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Physiology) (Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Physiology)

  3. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    Yoram Rudy Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering) (Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering)

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© 1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishing

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Rudy, Y. (1987). The Effects of the Thoracic Volume Conductor (Inhomogeneities) on the Electrocardiogram. In: Liebman, J., Plonsey, R., Rudy, Y. (eds) Pediatric and Fundamental Electrocardiography. Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol 56. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2323-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2323-5_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9428-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2323-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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