ABSTRACT
It is imperative for the efficient pump function of the heart that the electrical impulse generated by the sinus node propagates in a regular manner to the ventricular tissue. Along its journey from the sinus node, the impulse invades the atria, the AV node, and the fast intraventricular conduction system before it ultimately reaches the ventricles. There, it is crucial for the proper function of the heart that activation of the ventricular wall occurs almost simultaneously. This synchronicity of excitation is guaranteed by a highly effective transmission of the impulse among the cardiomyocytes, which represent a three-dimensional network of electrically coupled excitable elements.
