A SIMULATION OF CARDIAC ACTION CURRENTS HAVING CURL

A digital simulation of a two dimensional cardiac slice has been performed. It is stimulated at the center and an action potential propagates outward. An anisotropic bidomain model is used in which fast sodium physiology connects the intracellular and extracellular domains. For cases in which the inner asymmetry (expressed as longitudinal versus transverse electrical conductivity) is greater than the outer asymmetry, a current flow pattern is observed for which there is nonzero curl. Such a result explains recent observations of nonzero B(z) magnetic field detected above a slab of tissue in the x-y plane. The current loop producing this field consists of outer domain current in the longitudinal direction flowing around in space to return at the AP location in the transverse direction in the outer domain and then completing the loop in the longitudinal direction by passing distally through the AP in the inner domain where resistance is extremely low.