"Purkinje fibre" is a term used in cardiology to refer to specialized cells that help regulate the heart's electrical activity. The spelling of this word can be a bit tricky because it contains sounds that are not commonly found in English. The first syllable, "pur", is pronounced with a short "u" sound followed by an "r" sound, like "puhr". The second syllable, "kin", is pronounced with a long "i" sound followed by a "k" sound, like "kee-kin". Finally, the last syllable, "je", is pronounced with a soft "j" sound like "zhay". So the full pronunciation is "puhr-kee-kin-zhay".
A Purkinje fibre refers to a specialized cardiac muscle fiber found within the conduction system of the heart. Named after the Czech anatomist Jan Evangelista Purkyně, these fibers play a crucial role in the transmission of electrical signals that regulate the rhythmic contraction of the heart muscles, ensuring a coordinated and efficient heartbeat.
Purkinje fibers are located in the ventricular walls of the heart, where they are responsible for the rapid propagation of electrical impulses derived from the sinoatrial (SA) node and atrioventricular (AV) node. These impulses travel through the fibers, causing their depolarization and triggering the contraction of the ventricles, resulting in an effective pumping mechanism.
Distinctive features of Purkinje fibers include their larger size, pale dense cytoplasm, high glycogen content, and a diminished contractile capacity compared to regular cardiac muscle cells. This unique composition enables them to transmit electrical signals more quickly and efficiently than other cardiac cells, facilitating the coordinated contraction required for the heart's normal functioning.
In summary, Purkinje fibers are specialized conductive cells within the heart that enable the rapid transmission of electrical impulses, playing a pivotal role in coordinating the contraction of the ventricles to ensure an efficient heartbeat.
The term "Purkinje fiber" is named after Johann Evangelist Purkinje, a Czech anatomist and physiologist who discovered these specialized fibers in the 19th century. He conducted extensive research on the structure and functions of the nervous system, including the heart.
Purkinje fibers are part of the specialized conduction system of the heart that helps coordinate the contraction of the cardiac muscles. These fibers are located in the ventricles and are responsible for transmitting electrical signals from the atrioventricular node (AV node) to the myocardium, resulting in ventricular contraction.
Due to Purkinje's significant contributions to the field of anatomy and physiology, these specialized fibers were named after him as a way to honor his work.