Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the impulse conducting system of the monkey heart (Macaca mulatta)

II. The Atrio-ventricular node and bundle

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The atrio-ventricular (A-V) node of the monkey heart is located in the focus of converging atrial muscle. Three main atrial muscle strands, coming from the atrio-ventricular ring, the dorsal wall of the atria, and the ventral part of the atrial septum, converge in the nodal region where they overlap and are interconnected. The junctional type of fibers establishing interconnection between the atrial muscle and the nodal tissue are not strictly localized at the periphery of the node, but may be traced further, along the A-V ring and coronary sinus. The A-V node consists of a loose peripheral and a compact distal part. In the former, typical nodal fibers were found, while the compact part shows an important individual variation in structure and cell-types. In some monkey hearts, the nodal fibers gradually become broader bundle fibers, while in other specimens the junctional fibers surround the compact part and than penetrate the nodal-His (N-H) region. These junctional fibers become nodal fibers or are in terminal contact with large clear cells up to 50 μ in diameter. Clear cells of various diameters are often intercalated between the cell rows of the nodal and His-bundle fibers and may form a distinct cellular gate between the node and the His-bundle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, R. H.: Histologic and histochemical evidence concerning the presence of morphologically distinct cellular zones within the rabbit atrioventricular node. Anat. Rec. 173, 7–24 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair, D. M., Davies, F.: Observations on the conducting system of the heart. J. Anat. (Lond.) 69, 303–325 (1935)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bompiani, G. D., Rouiller, Ch., Hatt, P. Y.: Le tissue de conduction du coeur chez le rat. Etude au microscope électronique. I. Le tronc commun du faisceau de His et les cellules claires de l'oreillette droite. Arch. Mal. Coeur 52, 1257–1274 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Caesar, R., Edwards, G. A., Ruska, H.: Electron microscopy of the impulse conducting system of the sheep heart. Z. Zellforsch. 48, 698–719 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Challice, C. E.: Functional morphology of the specialized tissues of the heart. In: Methods and achievements in experimental pathology, vol. 5 (E. Bajusz, and G. Jasmin, eds.), p. 121–172. Basel: Karger 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiodi, V., Bertolami, R.: The conducting system of the vertebrate heart. Bologna: Edizioni Calderini 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Copenhaver, W. M., Truex, R. C.: Histology of the atrial portion of the cardiac conduction system in man and other mammals. Anat. Rec. 114, 601–625 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cranefield, P. F., Hoffman, B. F.: Conduction of the cardiac impulse: II. Summation and inhibition. Circulat. Res. 28, 220–233 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, F., Francis, E.T.B.: The conduction of impulse for cardiac contraction. J. Anat. (Lond.) 86, 302–309 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • DeFelice, L. J., Challice, C. E.: Anatomical and ultrastructural study of the electrophysiological atrioventricular node of the rabbit. Circulat. Res. 24, 457–474 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi, K.: An electron microscope study on the conduction system of the cow heart. Jap. Circulat. J. 26, 765–842 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, B. F., Cranefield, P. F.: Electrophysiology of the heart. New York: McGraw-Hill Co. 1960

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, B. F., Moore, E. N., Stuckey, J. H., Cranefield, P. F.: Functional properties of the atrioventricular conduction system. Circulat. Res. 13, 308–328 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, A. H.: The auriculo-ventricular bundle in mammals. J. Anat. (Lond.) 55, 269–285 (1921)

    Google Scholar 

  • James, T. N.: Anatomy of the human sinus node. Anat. Rec. 141, 109–139 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • James, T. N., Sherf, L.: Fine structure of the His bundle. Circulation 44, 9–28 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnovsky, M. J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A-138A (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, B.: Electrical properties of the muscle fiber membrane. Proc. roy. Soc. B 135, 506–534 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura, K.: Electron microscope studies on the cardiac conduction system of the dog. II. The sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes. Jap. Circulat. J. 25, 973–1013 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lev, M.: The normal anatomy of the conduction system in man and its pathology in atrioventricular block. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 111, 817–829 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, M. N., Zieske, H.: Mechanism of synchronization in isorhythmic A-V dissociation. III. Computer model. Circulat. Res. 28, 23–33 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahaim, I.: Les Maladies Organiques du Faisceau de His-Tawara. Paris: Masson 1931

    Google Scholar 

  • Marriott, H.J.L.: Atrioventricular synchronization and accrochage. Circulation 14, 38–43 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayor, H. D., Hampton, J. C., Rosario, B.: A simple method for removing the resin from Epoxy-embedded tissue. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 909–910 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • McNutt, N. S., Weinstein, R.S.: The ultrastructure of the nexus. A correlated thin-section and freeze-cleave study. J. Cell Biol. 47, 666–688 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendez, C., Moe, G. K.: Some characteristics of the transmembrane potentials of AV nodal cells during propagation of premature beats. Circulat. Res. 40, 993–1009 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mönckeberg, J. G.: Das spezifische Muskelsystem in menschlichen Herzen. Ergeb. allg. Path. path. Anat. 19, II 328–574 (1921)

    Google Scholar 

  • Myerburg, R. J., Gelband, H., Hoffman, B. F.: Functional characteristics of the gating mechanism in the canin A-V conducting system. Circulat. Res. 28, 137–147 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paes de Carvalho, A., De Almeida, D. F.: Spread of activity through the atrioventricular node. Circulat. Res. 8, 801–809 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodin, J.A.G., Del Missier, P., Reid, L. C.: The structure of the specialized impulse-conducting system of the steer heart. Circulation 24, 349–367 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Robb, J. S.: Comparative basic cardiology. New York-London: Grune and Stratton 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Sano, T., Yamagishi, S.: Spread of excitation from the sinus node. Circulat. Res. 16, 423–430 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scher, A. M., Rodrigez, M. I., Lukane, J., Young, A. C.: Mechanism of atrioventricular conduction. Circulat. Res. 7, 54–61 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, J. R., Johnson, E. A.: Cardiac muscle. A comparative ultrastructural study with special reference to frog and chicken hearts. Z. Zellforsch. 98, 437–468 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spira, A. W.: The nexus in the intercalated disc of the canin heart: Quantitative data for an estimation of its resistence. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 34, 409–425 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tawara, S.: Das Reizleitungssystem des Säugetierherzens. Jena: Gustav Fischer 1906

    Google Scholar 

  • Torii, H.: Electron microscope observation of the S-A and A-V nodes and Purkinje fibers of the rabbit. Jap. Circulat. J. 26, 39–77 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Truex, R. C.: Comparative anatomy and functional considerations of the cardiac conduction system. In: The specialized tissues of the heart. (A. Paes de Carvalho, W. Carlos de Mello, B. F. Hoffman, eds.), p. 22–43. Amsterdam-London-New York: Elsevier Publ. Co., 1961

    Google Scholar 

  • Truex, R. C.: Anatomical considerations of the human atrioventricular junction. In: Mechanisms and therapy of cardiac arrhythmias. (L. S. Dreifus, and W. Likoff, eds.), p. 333–340. New York: Grune and Stratton 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Truex, R. C., Smythe, M. Q.: Recent observations on the human cardiac conduction system with special considerations of the atrioventricular node and bundle. In: Electrophysiology of the heart. (B. Taccardi and G. Marchetti, eds.), p. 177–198. London: Pergamon Press 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Virágh, S.: The fine structure of the conducting system and the force producing muscle of the heart. Thesis (in Hungarian). Budapest 1969

  • Virágh, S.: Giant muscle cells in the atrio-ventricular conducting system of the rhesus monkey heart. In: Microscopie Electronique 1970, Vol. 3, p. 807–808. Paris: Société Francaise de Microscopie Electronique 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Virágh, S., Challice, C. E.: Variations in filamentous and fibrillar organization, and associated sarcolemmal structures, in cells of the normal mammalian heart. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 28, 321–334 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Virágh, S., Challice, C. E.: The impulse generation and conduction system of the heart. In: The ultrastructure of the mammalian heart (C. E. Challice and S. Virágh, eds.), New York-London 1973 in press

  • Virágh, S., Porte, A.: Structure fine du tissue vecteur dans le coeur de rat. Z. Zellforsch. 55, 263–281 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Virágh, S., Porte, A.: The fine structure of the conducting system of the monkey heart (Macaca mulatta). I. The sino-atrial node and the internodal connections. Z. Zellforsch. 145, 191–211 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, Y., Dreifus, L. S.: Inhomogeneous conduction in the A-V node. Amer. Heart J. 70, 505–514 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Postgraduate Medical School, Budapest, Hungary

    Sz. Virágh & A. Porte

  2. Institut de Physiologie et de Chimie biologique, Université Louis Pasteur, Section Sciences, Strasbourg, France

    Sz. Virágh & A. Porte

Authors
  1. Sz. Virágh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Porte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was conducted in part in the Department of Histology and Embryology of the Medical University in Budapest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Virágh, S., Porte, A. On the impulse conducting system of the monkey heart (Macaca mulatta). Z.Zellforsch 145, 363–388 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307163

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307163

Key words

Search

Navigation