Cardiac muscle. Light micrograph of a cross section through human heart muscle. An artery is visible lower right. Individual cells which make up these

---

Cardiac muscle. Light micrograph of a cross section through human heart muscle. An artery is visible lower right. Individual cells which make up these areas of muscle are closely connected, with branching cytoplasm which suggest an almost continuous, three-dimensional network (a syncytium). This allows for efficient transmission and regulation of muscle contraction. Spaces between cells are filled with connective tissue (blue) that is rich in blood capillaries; the demand of high and continuous performance on cardiac muscle is reflected in the concentration of such blood vessels.

---

Size: 4202px × 4221px
Photo credit: © OVERSEAS/COLLECTION CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, anatomical, anatomy, arterial, biological, biology, blood, body, cardiac, cardiomyocyte, cell, circulation, contractile, erythrocyte, healthcare, healthy, heart, histological, histology, human, light, lm, lumen, medical, medicine, micrograph, micrography, muscle, myocardiocyteal, normal, red, section, striated, system, tissue, vascular, vascularised, vessel, vessels, wall