Abstract
WHEN the heart stops beating, pulsations in individual cardiac muscle fibres continue. This can be observed by examining thin sections of living cardiac muscle under high-power magnification and transmitted light. The pulsations appear to be due to alternate relaxations and contractions of the fibres, with a concomitant change in the width of the striations. Under low-power magnification and by reflected light, the activity seen in the isolated mammalian heart is that of spontaneous minute contraction waves. Prinzmetal et al.1 have noticed a similar though much faster activity in human and dog fibrillating auricles. It disappeared with the cessation of fibrillation.
Published Version
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