Myocardium

From WikiLectures


The myocardium (tunica media) is cardiac muscle that ensures regular heart contractions . It is the thickest part of the heart wall, which it forms together with the endocardium and epicardium . The strongest myocardium is found in the left ventricle, where the blood pressure is the highest, and where oxygenated blood is ejected into the systemic circulation.

Structure[edit | edit source]

The basic building block of the heart muscle is the cardiomyocyte. These are Y-shaped muscle cells. The cell nuclei are located in the center of the cell and they are elongated. The cell nucleus may contain one to two nucleoli

Properties[edit | edit source]

Cardiac muscle tissue combines the properties of skeletal and smooth muscle. It consists of striated cardiac muscle tissue, which is not controllable by will (it is not subject to free control - involuntary).

It is innervated by the autonomic nervous system, which controls the frequency of contractions. The contractions arise spontaneously in the cardiac conduction system (cardiac automation).

The myocardium is nourished by coronary arteries that arise directly from the aorta. If it is not adequately supplied with nutrients, complications occur in the form of diseases, especially myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease.


Links[edit | edit source]

Related articles[edit | edit source]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • KONRÁDOVÁ, Václava, et al. Funkční histologie. 2. edition. H & H, 2000. 291 pp. ISBN 978-80-86022-80-2.
  • JUNQUEIRA, Carlos L, et al. Základy histologie. 1. edition. H & H, 2002. 502 pp. ISBN 80-85787-37-7.
  • KLIKA, Eduard. Histologie pro stomatology : celost. vysokošk. učebnice pro lék. fakulty v ČSSR. 1. edition. Praha : Avicenum, 1988. 448 pp. 
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