Cardiac Muscle Tissue Description
The heart needs a strong muscular layer in order to forcefully pump blood through the heart to the lungs and body. Cardiac muscle, or myocardium, is composed of specific cells that enable the heart to forcefully contract.
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Cardiac Muscle Cells
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Cardiac muscle cells are only found in the heart. These cells function involuntarily and cannot be consciously controlled.
Cardiac Tissue Striations
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Cardiac muscle tissue, when looked at microscopically, is striated, or striped. This is caused by the arrangement of protein filaments, which interact to allow movement.
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Meshlike Construction
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Cardiac muscle cells branch out and weave with each other to form a type of mesh that is resistant to tearing. This is essential since the heart muscle must withstand great pressure in order to pump blood.
Intercalated Disks
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Cardiac muscle cells fit together closely with each other at seams called intercalated disks. This tight fit assists with the electrical conduction necessary for the heart to function properly.
Pacemaker Cells
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There are some very specialized cardiac muscle cells, pacemaker cells, which initiate the heartbeat. The heartbeat therefore is generated by its own muscle and is myogenic, that is, functioning in an ordered, rhythmic pattern.
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