Incorporating local Ca2+ dynamics into single cell ventricular models

Abstract

Understanding physiological mechanisms underlying the activity of the heart is of great medical importance. Mathematical modeling and numerical simulation have become a widely accepted method of unraveling the underlying mechanism of the heart. Calcium (Ca2+) dynamics regulate the excitation-contraction coupling in heart muscle cells and hence are among the key players in maintaining normal activity of the heart. Many existing ventricular single cell models lack the biophysically detailed description of the Ca2+ dynamics. In this paper we examine how we can improve existing ventricular cell models by replacing their description of Ca2+ dynamics