Torrent guasp

A simple rule adopted for myofiber reorientation in the ventricles is pursued by taking the microscopic branching network of myocytes into account. The macroscopic active tension generated on the microscopic branching structure is modeled by a multidirectional active stress tensor, which is defined as a function of the strains in the branching directions. In our reorientation algorithm, the principal direction of the branching network is updated so that it turns in the direction of greater active tension in the isovolumetric systole...

The manner of packing together of the cardiomyocytes within the walls of the cardiac ventricles has now been investigated for over half a millennium. In 1669, Lower dissected the ventricular mass, likening the arrangement to skeletal musculature, in the form of a myocardial band extending between the right and left atrioventricular junctions. Pettigrew subsequently showed obvious helical arrangements to be evident within the ventricular walls, but emphasised that the cardiomyocytes were attached to each other, and could not justifiably be compared with skeletal cardiomyocytes...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The helical structure of the ventricular myocardium provides a simple view of cardiac anatomy, based on physiological evidence that has been broadly demonstrated in experimental and imaging studies, and helps to explain the electromechanical contraction of the myocardium during the cardiac cycle. The aim of this study was to standardize and provide a detailed description of the technique for preparing and manually dissecting the myocardium proposed empirically by Torrent-Guasp...

In his recent review for the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, Cirillo offers a concept for "cardiac memory" based on the notion that the ventricular cone can be unwrapped to show a myocardial band extending from the pulmonary to the aortic root. The concept of the myocardial band was itself developed by Torrent Guasp, and has subsequently been championed by Buckberg. Neither Torrent Guasp, when formulating his initial concept, nor Buckberg in his subsequent endorsements, have validated the results of dissection using histological or other techniques that would reveal the boundaries of the alleged band...

Cardiac dynamics are traditionally linked to a left ventricle, right ventricle, and septum morphology, a topography that differs from the heart's five-century-old anatomic description of containing a helix and circumferential wrap architectural configuration. Torrent Guasp's helical ventricular myocardial band (HVMB) defines this anatomy and its structure, and explains why the heart's six dynamic actions of narrowing, shortening, lengthening, widening, twisting, and uncoiling happen. The described structural findings will raise questions about deductions guiding "accepted cardiac mechanics", and their functional aspects will challenge and overturn them...

The concept of the 'unique myocardial band', which proposes that the ventricular myocardial cone is arranged like skeletal muscle, provides an attractive framework for understanding haemodynamics. The original idea was developed by Francisco Torrent-Guasp. Using boiled hearts and blunt dissection, Torrent-Guasp created a single band of ventricular myocardium extending from the pulmonary trunk to the aortic root, with the band thus constructed encircling both ventricular cavities. Cooked hearts can, however, be dissected in many ways...

Ventricular twisting, essential for cardiac function, is attributed to the contraction of myocardial helical fibers. The exact relationship between ventricular anatomy and function remains to be determined, but one commonly used explanatory model is the helical ventricular myocardial band (HVMB) model of Torrent-Guasp. This model has been successful in explaining many aspects of ventricular function, (Torrent-Guasp et al. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., 25, 376, 2004; Buckberg et al. Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg...

The literature on the morphology of the heart is reviewed within the context of recent histological findings. There is strong evidence for a dualistic myocardial function, whereby both ventricular constricting and expanding forces are supposed to act synchronously although with variable effect over the heart cycle.The morphological basis of this dualistic myocardial function is the contorted rope-like structure worn into the bulk of the heart muscle. Opinions are divided about the invasiveness of blunt preparation on the heat denatured heart by which the fascicular architecture is carved out of the muscle...

The heart's structure-function relationships explain normal cardiac dynamics and clarify how they are disrupted by disease. For 500 years, anatomists described circumferential and helical cardiac fibres, yet disagreed about their relationships. One current model is attributed to Torrent Guasp who described functional pathways, the helical ventricular myocardial band (HVMB) with two interconnected loops: an outer basal loop with transverse fibres surrounds an inner apical helical loop that is composed of oblique descending and ascending segments that create a conical apical vortex...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of morphological and functional evaluation of the helical ventricular myocardial band using standard echocardiographic images. METHODS: Echocardiographic data were obtained from 132 normal children. We attempted to identify the echogenic bright line serving as the boundary between the ascending and descending segments in the ventricular septum, and between the left and ascending segments in the left ventricular inferior wall in the helical myocardial band model proposed by Torrent-Guasp...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Deeper understanding of the myocardial structure linking the morphology and function of the heart would unravel crucial knowledge for medical and surgical clinical procedures and studies. Several conceptual models of myocardial fiber organization have been proposed but the lack of an automatic and objective methodology prevented an agreement. We sought to deepen this knowledge through advanced computer graphical representations of the myocardial fiber architecture by diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging...

BACKGROUND: One of the main factors affecting propagation of electrical waves and contraction in ventricles of the heart is anisotropy of cardiac tissue. Anisotropy is determined by orientation of myocardial fibres. Determining fibre orientation field and shape of the heart is important for anatomically accurate modelling of electrical and mechanical function of the heart. The aim of this paper is to introduce a theoretical rule-based model for anatomy and fibre orientation of the left ventricle (LV) of the heart and to compare it with experimental data...

Myocardial perforation is a complication following pacemaker implantation that may cause cardiac tamponade. We present an original case of myocardial lead perforation not complicated by acute cardiac tamponade. The patient with an acute myocardial infarct had a high bleeding risk both in the acute phase of lead insertion (anticoagulant and triple platelet anti-aggregation therapy) and after few days, the percutaneous extraction lead for the double platelet antiaggregant therapy. Torrent-Guasp's theory is considered for explaining the clinical course of patient...

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) is considered to contribute to cardiac dysfunction. Though myofiber organization is a key component of cardiac structure, functional and anatomical features of injured myofiber during LV remodeling have not been fully defined. We investigated myocyte injury after acute MI in a mouse model. Mice were subjected to surgical coronary occlusion/reperfusion by left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation and examined at 1 week and 4 weeks post-MI...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Left ventricular filling begins in the ventricular isovolumic relaxation phase. According to the Torrent-Guasp myocardial band theory, this phase results from the contraction of the final portion of the myocardial band: the ascending segment of the apical loop. The objectives were to study the myocardial mechanisms influencing transmitral flow during early diastole and to determine whether the rapid ventricular filling phase involves contraction or relaxation...

OBJECTIVE: The 3-dimensional arrangement of the ventricular mass remains controversial. In this study, we used magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MRDTI) in an attempt to determine whether the ventricular mass is arranged in the form of a helical ventricular myocardial band (HVMB) and what the geometrical features of the HVMB are in postmortem pig hearts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten pig hearts were harvested from the slaughterhouse, and their whole-body MR images were obtained...

Examination of 92 patients with grade I-II hypertensive disease showed that the emergence and enhancement of left ventricular concentric hypertrophy cause no changes in the volume of heart cavities and ventricular systolic function but result in the lengthening of the left ventricle and the diminishing of the right ventricle. These findings are interpreted in terms of Torrent-Guasp's theory of monolayer spiral ventricular structure.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding cardiac function requires knowledge of the architecture responsible for the normal actions of emptying and filling. Newer imaging methods are surveyed to characterize directional (narrowing, shortening, lengthening, and widening) and twisting motions. METHODS: These movements are defined and then compared with a spectrum of models to introduce a useful "functional anatomy" that explains cardiac spatial and temporal relationships. The sequential nature of normal contraction differs from a synchronous beat...

Francisco (Paco) Torrent-Guasp, a Spanish cardiologist working in De'nia, Alicante, discovered that the complex structure of the ventricular myocardium is due to a double-loop helical orientation of a single muscular band that extends from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, with a 180-degree twist in its middle part. He predicted the twist-untwist motion of the ventricles and suggested that this is due to agonist-antagonist mechanics of the ventricular band segments.

The restoration or de novo engineering of heart structures poses a challenge because of the unique structure and physical properties of the heart. The heart is a heterogeneous, complex helical structure with asymmetric and anisotropic features. Hence, it is variably built and consists of spiraling muscle bands (first described by Torrent-Guasp), valves, coronary vessels, and a conduction system. Therefore, successful construction of muscular or valvular grafts needs to meet specific prerequisites, such as mechanical stability, optimal porosity, and contractile function...