A histological study of the cardiac conduction system in a heifer with complete atrioventricular block

A case of complete atrioventricular (AV) block of congenital origin in a 16-month-old Holstein heifer was studied histologically with serial sectioning of the cardiac conduction system. The heart was enlarged and showed moderate dilatation of the left and right ventricles. Histologically, the abnormally placed and poorly formed AV bundle was observed in association with abnormality in the tricuspid extension of the central fibrous body, suggesting that the pathological state of the AV bundle had been responsible for the complete AV block. This type of anatomical fault in the AV bundle is considered to be part of an embryological, developmental malformation of the central fibrous body.