Abstract

The vertebral heart arises from two bilateral cardiac fields. The cardiac tube and the blood flow will function about three weeks after fertilisation.

Looping of the cardiac tube is the basic mechanism of formation of the atria, the ventricles and the outflow tract. Looping is regulated by the genetic factors releasing signalling chemicals, but also by haemodynamic factors. The structure and the function of the heart develop simultaneously. Divergence from the normal looping mechanism may result in various congenital heart defects.

For investigation of the looping mechanism, optical coherence tomography has been introduced. Four-dimensional optical coherence tomography is used for quantitative measurement of a single cardiac cycle. Recent data support the importance of haemodynamics in the development of the cardiovascular system.