Szívizomsejt

Szívizomsejt is the Hungarian term for a cardiac muscle cell, also known as a cardiomyocyte. These specialized cells are the fundamental building blocks of the heart muscle, or myocardium. They are responsible for the heart's ability to contract and pump blood throughout the body.

Cardiac muscle cells are unique in their structure and function. They are striated, meaning they have a striped appearance under a microscope due to the arrangement of contractile proteins. Unlike skeletal muscle cells, however, cardiac muscle cells are typically shorter and have a single, centrally located nucleus. A key feature of these cells is their interconnectedness. They are joined end-to-end by specialized structures called intercalated discs, which contain gap junctions and desmosomes. Gap junctions allow for rapid electrical communication between cells, enabling the heart to contract as a coordinated unit. Desmosomes provide strong physical connections, preventing the cells from pulling apart during contraction.

The rhythmic and involuntary contraction of the heart is a direct result of the electrical activity of cardiac muscle cells. Some cardiomyocytes, known as pacemaker cells, have the intrinsic ability to generate electrical impulses, initiating the heartbeat. Other cardiomyocytes then conduct these impulses, leading to widespread contraction of the myocardium. The precise regulation of calcium ions within the sarcoplasm of these cells is crucial for initiating and sustaining muscle contraction. Damage to szívizomsejtek, such as during a heart attack, can impair the heart's pumping function and lead to serious health consequences.