Bathmotropy
Bathmotropy (pronounced: bath-MO-tro-pee) is a term used in Medicine and Physiology to describe the change in the excitability of a cell membrane in response to mechanical stress. The term is derived from the Greek words 'bathmos' meaning 'step' and 'tropos' meaning 'turn'. It is often used in the context of cardiac physiology, where it refers to the change in the excitability of Cardiac muscle cells (or Myocytes) in response to mechanical stress.
Etymology
The term 'Bathmotropy' is derived from the Greek words 'bathmos' (βαθμός) meaning 'step' or 'degree', and 'tropos' (τρόπος) meaning 'turn' or 'change'. It was first used in the late 19th century to describe the change in excitability of nerve and muscle cells in response to mechanical stress.
Related Terms
- Inotropy: Refers to the force of muscle contraction. It is often used in the context of cardiac physiology to describe the strength of heart muscle contractions.
- Chronotropy: Refers to the rate of rhythmic activity, such as heart rate.
- Dromotropy: Refers to the conduction velocity of the heart's electrical impulse.
- Lusitropy: Refers to the rate of relaxation of the heart muscle.
See Also
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