The end of the unique myocardial band: Part II. Clinical and functional considerations

Abstract

Two of the leading concepts of mural ventricular architecture are the unique myocardial band and the myocardial mesh model. We have described, in an accompanying article published in this journal, how the anatomical, histological and high-resolution computed tomographic studies strongly favour the latter concept. We now extend the argument to describe the linkage between mural architecture and ventricular function in both health and disease. We show that clinical imaging by echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, and electrophysiological studies, all support the myocardial mesh model. We also provide evidence that the unique myocardial band model is not compatible with much of scientific research.

Keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; Contractile stress; Diastolic function; Echocardiography; Electrophysiology; Helical heart; Helical ventricular myocardial band; Ventricular anatomy; Ventricular function.