UL1.H1.2D1 Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac Muscle:

  • Cardiac muscle cells, unlike smooth or skeletal muscle cells, are connected by cell junctions
  • These form complexes known as intercalated discs
  • Although individual cell junctions cannot be resolved by the light microscope, intercalated disc complexes can just be discerned (arrows), connecting cardiac muscle cells
  • In this micrograph identify some large, pale staining nuclei- these are the nuclei of cardiac muscle cells
  • There are also some small, flattened, darkly staining nuclei- these are mainly nuclei of endothelial cells lining small blood vessels (capillaries)
  • Cardiac Muscle Cells

    Cardiac muscle cells in the wall of the heart

    Why do you think there are so many capillaries in cardiac muscle tissue?