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Heart Week Heart Strings
12 February 2013

Heart Strings

Performing a single heart beat depends on the detailed composition of the many millions of muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) that make up this vital organ. This microscopic ensemble of rat cardiomyocytes, magnified over 500 times, shows how proteins within the cells align (green- and red-stained stripes) to form myofibrils - the beating structures of the heart. Myofibrils within each cell (nuclei shown in blue) contract and relax in synchrony with others in adjacent cells, and together orchestrate the heart’s rhythmic beat. And even when the cells are removed from the heart and placed in a lab culture dish the beat goes on, helping scientists understand how myofibrils are composed as the heart develops. Identifying exactly what makes a heart beat will help researchers uncover the causes of life-threatening heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy.

Written by Caroline Cross

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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