Intercalated discs
Intercalated Discs
Intercalated discs (pronunciation: in-ter-kal-ay-ted disks) are specialized structures found in the cardiac muscle tissue. The term "intercalated" is derived from the Latin word "intercalare", which means "to insert or interpose".
Definition
Intercalated discs are microscopic identifying features of cardiac muscle. They appear as thin, typically dark-streaked lines separating the adjacent cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells). These discs help in the rapid transmission of electrical impulses across the cardiac muscle, facilitating the heart's primary function of pumping blood.
Structure
Intercalated discs are composed of three types of cell junctions: desmosomes, gap junctions, and adherens junctions. These junctions play a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of the heart and ensuring coordinated contraction of the heart muscle.
- Desmosomes are responsible for preventing the cells from separating during contraction.
- Gap junctions allow the passage of ions between cells, propagating the action potential that leads to the contraction of the heart muscle.
- Adherens junctions anchor the actin of the cell to the cell membrane, providing additional structural support.
Function
The primary function of intercalated discs is to synchronize the contraction of cardiac tissue to efficiently pump blood from the heart chambers. They also maintain the mechanical and electrical continuity between the cardiomyocytes.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Intercalated discs
- Wikipedia's article - Intercalated discs
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