Mechano-electric interactions and their role in electrical function of the heart
Jeremy Rice J., Kohl P.
© Springer-Verlag London 2013. The heart is an electrically controlled and chemically powered mechanical pump. There are complex interactions between cardiac structure and function, including electrophysiology, metabolism, and mechanics. These are based on a multitude of interdigitating regulatory loops with different inherent time-scales. This chapter will focus on the acute cross-talk between electrical and mechanical activity of the heart, and in particular its relevance for normal and abnormal heart rhythms.