HISTOLOGY

WEEK 8 ASSIGNMENT

Name- Shreyasi Dongre

Student no.- 01200005520
Email Id- srdongre5520val@student.fatima.edu.ph

1. Look for photomicrographs of the histologic layers of the heart and explain their histologic
differences.

ETRYFV

ENDOCARDIUM

MYOCARDIUM

EPICARDIUM
 ➢ HISTOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES-

EPICARDIUM- Delicate, inner visceral layer of the pericardium. The outer part of the
epicardium is lined with mesothelium: the epithelium lining the walls and contents of the
closed cavities of the body, such as the thoracic, pericardial and abdominal cavities.
Large blood vessels and nerves are found in the epicardium, and adipose tissue can be
abundant

MYOCARDIUM- Cardiac muscle is striated as a result of the arrangement of the actin and
myosin filaments in the sarcomeres. Cardiac muscles fibers are smaller (about 15
micrometers) than most skeletal muscle fibers (10 - 100 micrometers). Myocardium consists
of individual muscle cells with 1 - 2 centrally placed nuclei which branch, anastomose and
are arranged in a linear array, each fiber is about 85 - 100 micrometers long. The junction
between two cardiac muscle cells, called an intercalated disk, is another distinguishing
feature. The intercalated disk is made up of three types of cell junctions: fascia adherents,
desmosomes and gap junctions. Cardiac muscle is more vascularized and has more abundant
mitochondria than skeletal muscle (40% of volume vs. 2%); it also contains glycogen granules
between the myofibrils. Physiologically, cardiac muscle is intrinsically rhythmic (contracts
without outside stimulation) although it is regulated through nervous and hormonal
mechanisms

ENDOCARDIUM- Lies on luminal side of myocardium. Its inner surface is covered with
endothelial cells, a type of squamous epithelium lining the inside of the heart and blood
vessels. Beneath the endothelium is a layer of fairly loose, well vascularized connective
tissue, which becomes a bit denser closer to the myocardium. The thickness of the
endocardium varies inversely with the thickness of the myocardium; i.e. thicker in the atria
than the ventricles (which have more substantial muscular walls). The connective tissue
layer closest to the myocardium is slightly looser and is called the subendocardial layer; it
contains veins and nerves, as well as the Purkinje fibers when present

2. What is the difference between the endocardium of the atria and ventricles?

ENDOCARDIUM

ATRIA
The endocardium is much thicker than in
the ventricles
Endothelial cells here form and internal
lining in direct contact with the heart
chamber
Endocardial CT ranges from dense fibrous
to loose irregular
Adjacent myocardium contains bundles of
tightly packed cardiac muscle cells
separated by loose connective tissue.
VENTRICLES
The endocardium is less- thicker than in the
artia
Consist of an inner layer of endothelium
and a deeper subendocardial layer of
connective tissue
Endothelial cell nuclei bulge into the
ventricular chamber, which in life is filled
with blood
Sheets of cardiac muscle cells separated by
connective tissue make up the myocardium
3. What is the composition of an AV valve?

➢ The atrioventricular valves are thin structures that are composed of endocardium and
connective tissue. They are located between the atria and the ventricles. The AV valves are
characterized by large asymmetric leaflets hinged to ring shaped annuli on the secured end
and tethered to the ventricles by an elaborate apparatus made up of the chordae tendineae
and papillary muscles on the mobile end. The fibrous skeleton of the heart is continuous
with the annulus fibrosa that constitutes the interconnected fibrous cartilage-like support
apparatus of the tricuspid, mitral, and aortic valves. The annuli of the AV valves are ring-
shaped.
Tricuspid Valve: This heart valve is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
When closed, it allows oxygen-depleted blood returning to the heart from the venae cavae
to fill the right atrium. It also prevents the back flow of blood as it is pumped from the right
atrium to the right ventricle. When open, it allows blood from the right atrium to flow into
the right ventricle.
Mitral Valve: This heart valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle. When
closed, it allows the left atrium to fill with oxygen-rich blood returning to the heart from the
pulmonary veins. It opens to allow blood from the left atrium to fill the left ventricle.

References-
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Histological-sections-of-myocardium-endocardium-and-
epicardium-Photomicrographs_fig3_282978268
https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/hearthistology.html
https://basicmedicalkey.com/cardiovascular-system-4/
https://www.thoughtco.com/anatomy-of-the-heart-valves-373203
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4209403/