Cardiac Muscle Cells
Cardiac Muscle Cells

Cardiac Muscle Cells

This is a high power view of cardiac muscle cells. Like smooth muscle, each cardiac muscle cell has a single (sometimes two) centrally located nucleus. Like skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle cells are striated due to a similar arrangement of contractile proteins. Unique to the cardiac muscle are a branching morphology and the presence of intercalated discs found between muscle fibers. The intercalated discs stain darkly and are oriented at right angles to the muscle fibers. They are often seen as zigzagging bands cutting across the muscle fibers. In the intercellular spaces, note the supporting tissue with an extensive network of capillaries. The abundance of capillaries ensures adequate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to meet the high metabolic demands of cardiac cells.