CYTOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE CARDIAC CONDUCTION SYSTEM (PURKINJE FIBERS) AND THE HISTOLOGICAL BASIS OF ARRHYTHMIAS
Keywords:
Purkinje fibers, cardiac conduction system, cardiomyocytes, arrhythmia, fibrosis, ischemia, histology, automaticity, re-entry.Abstract
The rhythmic and coordinated activity of the heart depends on the specialized cardiac conduction system, which ensures impulse generation and propagation throughout the myocardium. Purkinje fibers, representing the terminal component of the conduction network, are structurally and functionally adapted for rapid electrical transmission within the ventricular myocardium. The present article analyzes the cytological characteristics of Purkinje fibers and examines the histological substrate underlying cardiac arrhythmias. Particular attention is given to degenerative, ischemic, inflammatory, and fibrotic alterations that disrupt impulse conduction and contribute to pathological automaticity and re-entry mechanisms. Understanding the structural basis of arrhythmogenesis is essential for improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in clinical cardiology.
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