staircase phenomenon

trep·pe

(trep'eh), Although in German spelling this word, like all nouns, begins with a capital letter, the English word does not. The final e is not silent.

A phenomenon in cardiac muscle first observed by H.P. Bowditch; if a number of stimuli of the same intensity are sent into the muscle after a quiescent period, the first few contractions of the series show a successive increase in amplitude (strength).

Synonym(s): staircase phenomenon

[Ger. Treppe, staircase]

trep·pe

(trep'ĕ)

A phenomenon in cardiac muscle. If a number of stimuli of the same intensity are sent into the muscle after a quiescent period, the first few contractions of the series show a successive increase in amplitude (strength).
Synonym(s): staircase phenomenon.

[Ger. Treppe, staircase]

staircase phenomenon

The effect exhibited by skeletal and heart muscle when subjected to rapidly repeated maximal stimuli following a period of rest. In the resulting series of contractions, each is greater than the preceding one until a state of maximum contraction is reached.

Synonym: treppe

staircase phenomenon

a characteristic of cardiac muscle, the strength of the contraction increases as the interval between contractions increases, up to a point.