90.1k views
5 votes
What would happen if adipose began to accumulate in large amounts in the superior portion of the interventricular septum, causing the autorhythmic cells in that area to separate?

User Eric Pi
by
8.3k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Adipose accumulation in the interventricular septum can disrupt the heart's electrical conduction system, potentially causing arrhythmias or fibrillation due to the separation of autorhythmic cells, leading to serious heart conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Step-by-step explanation:

If large amounts of adipose tissue were to accumulate in the superior portion of the interventricular septum, it could potentially disrupt the normal electrical conduction pathway in the heart. Specifically, it could lead to a separation of the autorhythmic cells, which include components like the sinoatrial node (SA node), atrioventricular node (AV node), and the Purkinje fibers. These structures are crucial for maintaining proper heart rhythm and coordination of the cardiac cycle.

A condition that can cause pathological enlargement of the heart muscle, including the interventricular septum, is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This thickening can interfere with the heart's electrical signals, increasing the risk of arrhythmias or even heart failure. The autorhythmic cells are vital as they set the rhythm of the heart; if these cells are separated or malfunction due to excess adipose tissue, it could lead to serious heart conditions like arrhythmias or fibrillation. An ECT abnormality might be detected in such cases, indicating irregularities in the electrical activity of the heart.

User Dganit
by
7.6k points