Ventricular syncytium

The ventricular syncytium is a network of cardiac muscle cells connected by gap junctions.

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Purpose

Because of the connected nature of the syncytium with gap juctions, the heart muscle is able to have a coordinated contraction of the ventricles.

Types

There are two syncytia of the heart:

1. The ventricular syncytium and the
2. The atrial syncytium

Both of these are separated by fibrous tissue.

Control

Cardiac muscle, found in the walls of the heart, is partly under control of the autonomic nervous system.

Cardiac muscle

The cardiac muscle cell has one central nucleus, like smooth muscle, but it also is striated, like skeletal muscle.

Contraction

The contraction of cardiac muscle is involuntary, strong, and rhythmical.

See also

• Ventricle (heart)
• Heart

Ventricular syncytium Resources
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