CARDIAC MYOCYTE Meaning and
Definition
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A cardiac myocyte, sometimes referred to as a cardiomyocyte, is a specialized type of muscle cell found in the heart tissue. These cells are responsible for the powerful contraction of the heart, which drives the circulation of blood throughout the body.
Cardiac myocytes are distinct from other muscle cells as they possess specific structural and functional characteristics that enable them to perform their unique role in the heart. These cells are elongated, with a cylindrical shape, and are typically arranged in a network, allowing coordinated contraction of the heart chambers.
Structurally, cardiac myocytes consist of a central nucleus surrounded by abundant contractile proteins known as myofibrils. These myofibrils contain sarcomeres, which are the basic contractile units of muscle fibers. Cardiac myocytes also have a rich network of interconnecting tubes called the sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubules, which facilitate the conduction of electrical impulses required for coordinated contraction.
Functionally, cardiac myocytes play a vital role in maintaining heart function. When stimulated by electrical impulses, they contract simultaneously, generating the force required for the heart to pump blood. Additionally, these cells contain specialized proteins called ion channels, which regulate the movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium, allowing for the proper conduction of electrical signals and coordination of contraction.
A dysfunction or damage to cardiac myocytes can lead to various heart diseases, such as arrhythmias, heart failure, or cardiomyopathies. Understanding the structure and function of cardiac myocytes is crucial in the development of treatments and interventions aimed at promoting heart health and managing heart-related conditions.
Common Misspellings for CARDIAC MYOCYTE
- xardiac myocyte
- vardiac myocyte
- fardiac myocyte
- dardiac myocyte
- czrdiac myocyte
- csrdiac myocyte
- cwrdiac myocyte
- cqrdiac myocyte
- caediac myocyte
- caddiac myocyte
- cafdiac myocyte
- catdiac myocyte
- ca5diac myocyte
- ca4diac myocyte
- carsiac myocyte
- carxiac myocyte
- carciac myocyte
- carfiac myocyte
- carriac myocyte
- careiac myocyte
Etymology of CARDIAC MYOCYTE
The term "cardiac myocyte" has the following etymology:
1. Cardiac: The word "cardiac" comes from the Greek word "kardia", which means "heart". It is derived from the Indo-European root "*kerd-", meaning "heart".
2. Myocyte: The word "myocyte" is composed of two parts:
- Myo: The prefix "myo-" is derived from the Greek word "mys" or "myos", meaning "muscle". It refers to muscle-related structures.
- Cyte: The suffix "-cyte" comes from the Greek word "kytos", which means "cell". It is commonly used in biological terms to denote a cell of a specific type.
Together, "cardiac myocyte" refers to a specialized muscle cell found in the heart, responsible for the contraction and pumping of blood.
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