Cardiac skeleton

Cardiac skeleton

Cardiac skeleton (sometimes called "fibrous skeleton of the heart") refers to the structure of dense connective tissue in the heart that separates the atria from the ventricles.

It is not a "true" skeleton, but it does provide structure and support for the heart, as well as isolating the electric charges that go through the heart by slowing them down enough to allow the atriums to contract before the ventricles so that the heart is much more efficient. It also allows the valves (bicuspid, tricuspid, semi lunar) to keep open by giving them structural support.

ee also

* Fibrous rings of heart
* Fibrous trigone

External links

*
* [http://www.jdaross.cwc.net/heart4.htm Description at cwc.net]
* [http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/histology/slide.php?
]
* [http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/histology/labmanual2002/labsection2/Cardiovascular03_files/image016.jpgAnother illustration at vanderbilt.edu]
* [http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/histology/labmanual2002/labsection2/Cardiovascular03.htm Overview at vanderbilt.edu]


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