The knowledge of the electrical sources in the human heart is of high interest in cardiology. Different types of heart deseases show different spatial source distributions with regard to one or more heart cycles.

     The knowlege of the state of the heart is usually obtained by evaluating measured data of the potential distribution on the body surface (body surface potential maps, BSPM) which arises from the electrical sources in the heart. The calculation of such sources may be done by solving the inverse problem of electrocardiology. In contrast to the inverse problem the forward problem of electrocardiology can be solved by calculating the body surface potential maps from a given electrical source distribution.

     Both applications need a realistic source distribution either as boundary condition (forward problem) or for validation purposes (inverse problem). To obtain a realistic source distribution several approches are possible.

     In this study a simulation of the electrical excitation propagation based on an anatomical model of the heart of the Visible Man is performed by means of a cellular automaton. Thus, it is possible to determine the electrical source distribution numerically from the results of the cellular automaton. In addition, an example of a calculation of the body surface potential map is done as well.