Body Surface Potential Distribution of an Intrathoracic Bipole as Related to Tissue Conductivity in Electrocardiography

Abstract

The surface potential distribution of an intra-thoracic bipole was detd. in the dog. At first the bipole was produced by sewing 2 silver dimes on each side of the pericardium. Later the bipole was inserted down the esophagus. The potential distributed was the same in either type of expt. The distribution was then compared with that of a similar bipole in a homogeneous medium derived by mathematical calculation. The surface distribution and the mathematically calculated distribution were strikingly similar. It was concluded that for purposes of electrocardiography the tissues exhibit homogeneous "conductivity.