Myocardial contractile cells

Definition

Myocardial contractile cells are specialized muscle cells in the heart responsible for generating the force needed to pump blood throughout the body. These cells make up the majority of the heart muscle and function through coordinated contractions.

Related terms

Cardiac Muscle:

A type of involuntary striated muscle found exclusively in the heart, enabling it to contract and pump blood.

Sinoatrial Node:

Often called the heart's natural pacemaker, it initiates the electrical impulses that dictate heartbeat rhythm, ensuring myocardial contractile cells contract properly.

Action Potential:

A temporary reversal of electrical polarization of the membrane of a nerve or muscle cell, allowing myocardial contractile cells to contract following an orchestrated sequence