Heart muscle
Heart Muscle
The Heart Muscle (pronunciation: /hɑːrt ˈmʌsl/), also known as the myocardium (pronunciation: /maɪəˈkɑːrdiəm/), is the muscular tissue of the heart. It is responsible for the contraction and relaxation that facilitate the pumping of blood throughout the body.
Etymology
The term "Heart Muscle" is derived from the Old English words 'heorte' for heart and 'muscul' for muscle. The term "myocardium" is of Greek origin, with 'myo' meaning muscle and 'kardia' meaning heart.
Structure
The heart muscle is composed of three layers: the epicardium (outer layer), the myocardium (middle layer), and the endocardium (inner layer). The myocardium is the thickest layer and contains cardiac muscle cells which are responsible for the heart's pumping action.
Function
The primary function of the heart muscle is to pump blood throughout the body. It does this by contracting and relaxing in a rhythmic cycle known as the cardiac cycle. The heart muscle also has the unique ability to generate its own electrical impulses, a property known as automaticity.
Related Terms
- Cardiac Muscle Cells: The cells that make up the heart muscle.
- Cardiac Cycle: The sequence of events that occur when the heart beats.
- Automaticity: The ability of the heart muscle to generate its own electrical impulses.
- Epicardium: The outer layer of the heart muscle.
- Myocardium: The middle layer of the heart muscle.
- Endocardium: The inner layer of the heart muscle.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Heart muscle
- Wikipedia's article - Heart muscle
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