The Theory of Kent

This is an anatomic study of an alternate theory of conduction, first advanced by Kent, that conduction from atria to ventricles is by way of numerous muscular communications, rather than exclusively through the bundle of His. The entire atrioventricular rings of 22 fetal and newborn hearts, in addition to the A-V node, bundle and bundle branches in five adult hearts, were serially sectioned. No muscular communications outside the conduction system were found. Communications between the A-V node, bundle and left bundle branch with the ventricular musculature were frequently found in the fetus, and less commonly in the adult.