Cardiac Muscle Cells

Cardiac Muscle Cells (Cardiocytes, Cardiac Myocytes) are short, rectangular, striated fibers that make up the heart. Because the cells are branched, they have intercalated discs that connect the different branches. Cardiac Myocytes are regular eukaryotic cells, with one nucleus that is generally centered.

They are autorhythmic cells, which means that they contract rhythmically without stimulation from the brain. This is possible because of pacemaker cells that stimulate the cardiac myocytes into contracting.
Cardiac Muscle cells are what keeps the heart beating properly, which allows us to sustain life.


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