The Myocardium reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Myocardium

Myocardium is the muscular tissue of the heart. Other tissues are the endocardium (inner lining, effectively a specialised endothelium) and the pericardium (a connective tissue layer around the heart).

Functions of the myocardium are:

• Rhythmic contraction
• Electric conduction

The blood supply of the myocardium is by the coronary arteries. If there arteries are occluded by atherosclerosis and/or thrombosis, this can lead to angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.

Certain virusus lead to inflammation of the myocardium, or myocarditis.

Failure of the heart to contract properly (for various reasons) are termed heart failure, generally leading to fluid retention, oedema, pulmonary oedema, renal insufficiency, hepatomegaly, a shortened life expectancy and decreased quality of life.

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