hjartavöðvann

The hjartavöðvann, known in English as the myocardium, is the muscular tissue that forms the walls of the heart. It is a unique type of muscle tissue, involuntary and striated, meaning it has a striped appearance under a microscope. The myocardium's primary function is to contract and pump blood throughout the body. This remarkable organ is composed of specialized cardiac muscle cells called cardiomyocytes. These cells are interconnected by structures called intercalated discs, which facilitate rapid and coordinated electrical signals, allowing the heart to beat in a synchronized manner. The thickness of the myocardium varies in different chambers of the heart; the left ventricle, which pumps blood to the entire body, has the thickest wall, while the right ventricle, which pumps blood only to the lungs, is thinner. The blood supply to the myocardium itself is crucial and is provided by the coronary arteries. Any disruption to this blood flow, such as in a myocardial infarction (heart attack), can severely damage or kill the heart muscle. The health of the hjartavöðvann is paramount for overall cardiovascular health and the body's ability to function.