Previously we have reported that in the rabbit the sinus node impulse spreads not only to the atrial muscle but also to the musculature in the venae cavae proximal to the heart10, 19). On the basis of this result, Mashiba and coworkers have introduced into electrophysiology the concept of sinocaval conduction. Recently ARITA and coworkers reported on the mechanical activity of the vena caval muscle of the rabbito. Further studies on the sinocaval conduction of the rabbit have revealed that the transmission of the sinus node impulse to the superior venae cavae is delayed during passage through three different sites: one is the sinus node and the others are the junctions of right and left superior venae cavae with the right atrium. These junctional areas have been found to take over the function of impulse initiation under certain conditions. We have called them the sinocaval (SC) areas. The present paper mainly deals with the functional properties of the SC areas.
METHODSThe experimental methods employed here were the same as described prey iouslylo.
RESULTS
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