Thursday, May 16, 2024
What cells make up the heart?
Instructions
What cells make up the heart?
The heart is composed of specialized cells called cardiomyocytes or myocardiocytes.
And why are these cells important?
In summary, cardiomyocytes play a crucial role in maintaining blood circulation by contracting rhythmically and efficiently. They are essential for the heart’s function and overall health. 😊
Conductive Cardiomyocytes:
These cells are involved in the heart’s electrical conduction system.
They include the sinuatrial node, atrioventricular node, and Purkinje fibers.
Conductive cardiomyocytes have leaky ion channels, fewer myofibrils, and reduced potential resistance
Below watch a short video to learn about two sets of heart cells and how they work together to lead to heart beats. You'll then answer a few short questions to check your understanding.
Contractile vs Pacemaker cells (6 min)Links to an external site.
How are contractile cells and pacemaker cells related?
Which cause heart contractions?
Which set the heart rate?
How are the two sets of cells physically connected at the cellular level? As a result, how do ions flow from one cell to another?