Biological pacemaker
Biological pacemaker
A Biological pacemaker (pronunciation: /baɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈpeɪsmeɪkər/) is a type of pacemaker that utilizes the body's natural biological processes to regulate the heart rate.
Etymology
The term "biological pacemaker" is derived from the words "biological", meaning related to living organisms, and "pacemaker", which refers to a device that regulates the rhythm of an organ.
Definition
A biological pacemaker is a pacemaker that is created by altering the gene expression in select cells within the heart. This alteration allows these cells to exhibit pacemaker properties, including the ability to spontaneously generate electrical impulses that regulate the heart's rhythm.
Related Terms
- Gene therapy: A technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the context of biological pacemakers, gene therapy is used to alter the gene expression in heart cells.
- Sinoatrial node: Also known as the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial node is a group of cells located in the right atrium of the heart. These cells generate electrical impulses that regulate the heart's rhythm.
- Arrhythmia: A condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm. Biological pacemakers can be used to treat certain types of arrhythmias.
- Electrophysiology: The study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. It involves measurements of voltage changes or electric current flow on a wide variety of scales from single ion channel proteins to whole organs like the heart.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Biological pacemaker
- Wikipedia's article - Biological pacemaker
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