Conduction blocks in and around preferential pathway of dog right atrium

We studied conduction properties and histological findings at branching sites of the pectinate muscle (PM) from the crista terminalis (CT) in the dog right atrium. Propagation was faster in the longitudinal direction along CT than along PM. When the rate of stimulation was increased, conduction blocks to PM occurred at a longer cycle length than those to CT in 10 of 19 cases without differences in the refractory period. There were two block sites, one at the lateral edge within CT and the other at the branching site of PM from CT. The former was dominant with normal solution and the latter with high K+ solution. Histological studies showed no apparent differences between the two groups. CT consisted of a number of unit bundles in a longitudinal direction. The unit bundles continuing from the edge of CT proceeded into PM. Their orientation in PM, however, became irregular and tangled. Between the branches of PM, conduction block occurred unpredictably without regard to direction. These observations indicated the importance of the arrangement and orientation of the unit bundles in the appearance of the preferential conduction and block.