Ca2Â + waves in the heart

Ca2 + waves were probably first observed in the early 1940s. Since then Ca2 + waves have captured the attention of an eclectic mixture of mathematicians, neuroscientists, muscle physiologists, developmental biologists, and clinical cardiologists. This review discusses the current state of mathematical models of Ca2 + waves, the normal physiological functions Ca2 + waves might serve in cardiac cells, as well as how the spatial arrangement of Ca2 + release channels shape Ca2 + waves, and we introduce the idea of Ca2 + phase waves that might provide a useful framework for understanding triggered arrhythmias. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Calcium Signaling in Heart”.