Left ventricular muscle band (VMB): thoughts on its physiologic and clinical implications☆

Although the ventricular muscle band (VMB) is formed by one continuous band of myocardium and there is some evidence to suggest that it may contract sequentially along its course from the right ventricle, through the septum, then along its basoapical left ventricular spiral, the structure is not activated in this sequence. Activation as programmed by the fully developed Purkinje system proceeds broadly and directly from endocardium to epicardium and from apex to base. Although not activated sequentially along its course, the band may still contract and relax sequentially if there is a progressive lengthening of the contraction duration in association with a nonuniform lengthening of the cardiac fiber action potential (repolarization) duration. Also, the systolic and diastolic functions of the band should be considered as part of a complex, integrated electromechanical system in which the activation is programmed to ensure optimal function.