The biology of the heart muscle.

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<p>PC Harris, Head of the Department of Cardiac Medicine Cardio-Thoracic Institute, talks about the biology of the heart muscle. A summary accompanying the cassette reads: "Contraction of the cardiac muscle is performed by the sliding movement of the filaments of the myofibrils. The energy for this purpose is provided by the hydrolysis of ATP. The mitochondria replenish the supply of ATP by oxidative phorylation. The presence of the sodium: potassium exchange pump in the cell wall membrane, together with the varying permeability of the membrane to different ions, leads to a resting transmembrane potential. During excitation the permeability of the membrane changes in a sequential fashion. The action of a number of cardio-active drugs may be explained in this region. The link between excitation and contraction is mediated by calcium ions which are alternately sequested and released by the sarco-plasmic reticulum." 6 segments.</p>

The biology of the heart muscle.

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