This rectangular shaped cell is the Cardiac Muscle cell. Each cell is relatively small, and has one nucleus (sometimes 2) They are connected by microscopic features of the cardiac muscle. This is known as the intercalated discs. These intercalated discs contain cell structures called desmosomes and gap junctions. Compared to skeletal muscle cells, these cells are Y shaped and are a lot shorter and wider.
Desmosomes are thick patches in the cell membrane region, usually lying between two cells. The tissues are rigid in a cardiac muscle cell because of the specialized protein keratin that is in Desmosomes. Keratin is the same protein that is found in fingernails and hair. The desmosomes also contain proteins like desmoplakin and desmin …show more content…
It is very distinguishable from the two other forms of muscles in the body; smooth muscle which move internal organs, and skeletal muscles that power joints. Every cardiac muscle cell is branched and interacts through intercellular junctional complexes forming a tissue described as a functional syncytium. Functional syncytium is the dark areas of the muscle fiber that separate the muscle cells from each other.
Cardiac muscle fibers are similar to skeletal muscle fibers, in that they are surrounded in an area that is called an endomysium that is perceptible in cardiac muscle preparations. The gap junctions in the fiber allow for a transmission that sends a depolarizing current to each cell to allow them to contrast in unison. They contract continuously for the entirety of the organism's life, hence its “special” …show more content…
There are four chambers located within the heart with an upper and lower chamber. The upper chambers consist of the left and right atria, and the lower chambers consist of the left and right vesicles.
The left and right vesicle and the left and right atrium are separated by a wall of muscle known as the septum. The strongest and largest chamber in your heart is the left ventricle. They have enough force to push blood blood through the aortic valve and through your body even though it is about half an inch thick.
There are many different types of valves located in the heart. The tricuspid valve manages blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle. The pulmonary valve regulates blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary arteries, which take blood to your lungs for oxygen. Next, the mitral valve allows oxygen-rich blood from your lungs to enter the left atrium into the left ventricle. Lastly, the aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to enter the left ventricle into the aorta which is the largest artery in your body.
Organ System - Circulatory
Desmosomes are thick patches in the cell membrane region, usually lying between two cells. The tissues are rigid in a cardiac muscle cell because of the specialized protein keratin that is in Desmosomes. Keratin is the same protein that is found in fingernails and hair. The desmosomes also contain proteins like desmoplakin and desmin …show more content…
It is very distinguishable from the two other forms of muscles in the body; smooth muscle which move internal organs, and skeletal muscles that power joints. Every cardiac muscle cell is branched and interacts through intercellular junctional complexes forming a tissue described as a functional syncytium. Functional syncytium is the dark areas of the muscle fiber that separate the muscle cells from each other.
Cardiac muscle fibers are similar to skeletal muscle fibers, in that they are surrounded in an area that is called an endomysium that is perceptible in cardiac muscle preparations. The gap junctions in the fiber allow for a transmission that sends a depolarizing current to each cell to allow them to contrast in unison. They contract continuously for the entirety of the organism's life, hence its “special” …show more content…
There are four chambers located within the heart with an upper and lower chamber. The upper chambers consist of the left and right atria, and the lower chambers consist of the left and right vesicles.
The left and right vesicle and the left and right atrium are separated by a wall of muscle known as the septum. The strongest and largest chamber in your heart is the left ventricle. They have enough force to push blood blood through the aortic valve and through your body even though it is about half an inch thick.
There are many different types of valves located in the heart. The tricuspid valve manages blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle. The pulmonary valve regulates blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary arteries, which take blood to your lungs for oxygen. Next, the mitral valve allows oxygen-rich blood from your lungs to enter the left atrium into the left ventricle. Lastly, the aortic valve allows oxygen-rich blood to enter the left ventricle into the aorta which is the largest artery in your body.
Organ System - Circulatory