The anatomy of the atrioventricular bundle in the heart of camels (Camelus dromedarius)

The anatomy and histology of the atrioventricular bundle (AVB) was studied in the heart of six camels (Camelus dromedarius). The trunk of the atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His) was a direct continuation of the atrioventricular (AV) node with no sharp line of demarcation between the node and the bundle. The atrioventricular bundle ran through the fibrous trigone and entered the lower part of the interventricular membranous septum, beneath the right endocardium, then lay over or slightly to the side of the centre of the muscular interventricular crest. The AVB of camels measured 4.12 +/- 1.00 mm in length, 3.66 +/- 1.13 mm in width and 1.13 +/- 1.85 mm in thickness, its maximum sectional area being 12.68 +/- 6.13 mm2. Histologically, the AVB in the heart of camels comprised multiple strands of Purkinje cells separated by collagen fibres and surrounded by connective tissue. It resembled that in human beings and dogs except that, in camels, intercalated discs were present at the intercellular connections in the AVB.