RT-205
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Is there an isthmus and a Koch’s triangle in the right atrium?
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Saroja Bharati.
Maurice Lev Congenital Heart and Conduction System Center, The Heart Institute for Children, Hope Children’s Hospital, Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Rush Medical College, Rush University, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, Finch University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
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Abstract
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Today, the terms “isthmus” and “Koch’s triangle” are being used
extensively by the electrophysiologists in their work. However, for an anatomist, the terms such as “isthmus”
and “Koch’s triangle” implies that there are distinct anatomic landmarks in the right atrialmorphology. In reality
there are no such landmarks in the right atrium. In order to describe an anatomic structure as a landmark, the
structure had to be defined appropriately that it may be applicable for proper usage. Anatomically, if the words
or terms do not express the precise meaning, it would be appropriate not to use them. However, it should be
emphasized that depending upon its usage, the defined structure may have limitations. For example, although
the defined structure may not exist anatomically, it may be used by the physiologists to convey an anatomic
landmark. Such usage of words or terms may be permissible in a physiological sense, provided it is useful for the
physiologists in their work. However, the physiologists should emphasize that the terms “Koch’s triangle” and
“isthmus” are being used physiologically and not anatomically.
The anatomy of the so-called “isthmus” and “Koch’s triangle” are discussed briefly to emphasize the lack of
clarity of these terms as anatomic landmarks when used physiologically.
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Key Words
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