Bowditch effect
Bowditch Effect
The Bowditch Effect (pronounced: boh-ditch effect), also known as the Treppe Phenomenon or Staircase Phenomenon, is a physiological occurrence named after the American physiologist Henry Pickering Bowditch.
Etymology
The term "Bowditch Effect" is derived from the name of Henry Pickering Bowditch, who first described this phenomenon in 1871. The alternate names, "Treppe Phenomenon" and "Staircase Phenomenon", are descriptive of the step-like increase in contractile response observed in this effect.
Definition
The Bowditch Effect refers to the phenomenon where the strength of heart muscle contractions increases in response to an increase in the frequency of stimulation, without a change in the length of the muscle fibers or the concentration of calcium ions. This is a fundamental property of cardiac muscle tissue and is critical for the heart's ability to increase its pumping capacity in response to increased physiological demand.
Related Terms
- Cardiac Muscle: The type of muscle tissue that makes up the heart and is responsible for its contractions.
- Heart Rate: The frequency of heart contractions, typically measured in beats per minute.
- Inotropy: The force of muscle contractions, particularly in the context of the heart.
- Chronotropy: The rate of contractions, particularly in the context of the heart.
See Also
References
- Bowditch HP. Über die Eigentümlichkeiten der Reizbarkeit, welche die Muskelfasern des Herzens zeigen. Berichte über die Verhandlungen der Königlich Sächsischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, Mathematisch-Physische Classe. 1871;23:652–689.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bowditch effect
- Wikipedia's article - Bowditch effect
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