CARDIAC MUSCLE Meaning and
Definition
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Cardiac muscle refers to the specialized type of muscular tissue found exclusively in the heart. It is responsible for the continuous, involuntary contraction and relaxation that allows the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
The structure of cardiac muscle is distinct from that of skeletal muscle because it possesses unique features that suit its specific role. Cardiac muscle cells, also referred to as cardiomyocytes, are striated in appearance due to the presence of repeating units called sarcomeres. These sarcomeres contain contractile proteins - myosin and actin - which enable the contraction of the muscle fibers.
Unlike skeletal muscles, cardiac muscles have intercalated discs, which are specialized junctions between adjacent cells. Intercalated discs consist of two distinct components: desmosomes, which provide mechanical strength and prevent separation of the cardiac cells during contraction, and gap junctions, which allow the electrical signals to pass between cells, ensuring coordinated contraction of the heart.
Cardiac muscle cells are also unique in their ability to contract without any external stimulation. They possess inherent rhythmicity due to the presence of specialized cells called pacemaker cells, which generate electrical impulses and initiate each heartbeat. This rhythmic contraction is coordinated by the conduction system of the heart, which ensures a synchronized contraction of all cardiac muscle cells and enables efficient pumping of blood.
Overall, cardiac muscle plays a crucial role in maintaining the rhythmic pumping action of the heart, allowing oxygenated blood to be delivered to all parts of the body and facilitating the removal of waste products.
Common Misspellings for CARDIAC MUSCLE
- xardiac muscle
- vardiac muscle
- fardiac muscle
- dardiac muscle
- czrdiac muscle
- csrdiac muscle
- cwrdiac muscle
- cqrdiac muscle
- caediac muscle
- caddiac muscle
- cafdiac muscle
- catdiac muscle
- ca5diac muscle
- ca4diac muscle
- carsiac muscle
- carxiac muscle
- carciac muscle
- carfiac muscle
- carriac muscle
Etymology of CARDIAC MUSCLE
The word "cardiac" comes from the Greek word "kardia", which means "heart". The term "muscle" originated from the Latin word "musculus", meaning "little mouse" due to the shape of muscles in the human body that resemble small mice. Therefore, the word "cardiac muscle" refers to the type of muscle specific to the heart.
Similar spelling words for CARDIAC MUSCLE
- cardiac output,
- cardiac massage,
- Cardiac Glucoside,
- cardiac rhythm,
- cardiac plexus,
- cardiac pacemaker,
- music critic,
- cardiac glycoside,
- cardiac sphincter,
- cardiac murmur,
- cardiac arrest,
- cardiac valve,
- cardiac monitor,
- cardiac cycle.
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