muscle tissue - cardiac muscle

Cardiac Muscle Tissue

Structure

• Fibers: Long, branched fibers with a centrally located nucleus.

  • Nucleus: Easily visible in the center of each fiber.

  • Striations: Visible at higher magnification; indicative of contraction mechanism.

  • Cell Junction: Presence indicates cardiac muscle tissue.

Intercalated Discs

• Definition: Structures where adjacent cardiomyocytes join.

  • Function: Allow communication between cells via ion passage.

  • Structure: Composed of gap junctions with connexons.

  • Appearance: Darker lines visible under light microscope, indicating connections between fibers.

Characteristics of Cardiac Muscle Tissue

• Type: Involuntary striated muscle.

• Location: Found exclusively in the muscular walls of the heart.

• Identification:

  • Branching fibers.

  • Centrally located nuclei.

  • Intercalated discs present.