ThePurkinje fibers,named forJan Evangelista Purkyně,(English:/pɜːrˈkɪni/pur-KIN-jee;[1]Czech:[ˈpurkɪɲɛ];Purkinje tissueorsubendocardial branches) are located in the innerventricularwalls of theheart,[2]just beneath theendocardiumin a space called the subendocardium. The Purkinje fibers are specialized conducting fibers composed ofelectrically excitable cells.[3]They are larger thancardiomyocyteswith fewer myofibrils and manymitochondria.They conductcardiac action potentialsmore quickly and efficiently than any of the other cells in the heart'selectrical conduction system.[4]Purkinje fibers allow the heart's conduction system to createsynchronized contractionsof its ventricles, and are essential for maintaining a consistentheart rhythm.[5]

Purkinje fibers
Isolated heart conduction system showing Purkinje fibers
TheQRS complexis the large peak.
Details
Identifiers
Latinrami subendocardiales
MeSHD011690
TA98A12.1.06.008
TA23961
FMA9492
Anatomical terminology

Histology

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Purkinje fiber just beneath the endocardium

Purkinje fibers are a uniquecardiacend-organ. Furtherhistologicexamination reveals that these fibers are split in ventricles walls. The electrical origin of atrial Purkinje fibers arrives from thesinoatrial node.

Given no aberrant channels, the Purkinje fibers are distinctly shielded from each other bycollagenor thecardiac skeleton.

The Purkinje fibers are further specialized to rapidly conduct impulses (having numerous fastvoltage-gatedsodium channelsandmitochondria,and fewermyofibrils,than the surrounding muscle tissue). Purkinje fibers take up stain differently from the surrounding muscle cells because of having relatively fewer myofibrils than other cardiac cells. The presence of glycogen around the nucleus causes Purkinje fibers to appear, on a slide, lighter and larger than their neighbors, being arranged along the longitudinal direction (parallel to the cardiac vector). They are oftenbinucleated cells.[6]

Function

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Heart rate is governed by many influences from theautonomic nervous system.The Purkinje fibers do not have any known role in setting heart rate unless theSA nodeis compromised (when they can act aspacemakercells).[7]They are influenced byelectrical dischargefrom the sinoatrial node.

Impulse carrying

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During theventricular contractionportion of thecardiac cycle,the Purkinje fibers carry the contraction impulse from both the left and rightbundle branchto themyocardiumof the ventricles.[5]This causes the muscle tissue of the ventricles to contract. This generatesforceto ejectbloodout of the heart, either to thepulmonary circulationfrom the right ventricle, or to thesystemic circulationfrom the left ventricle.[8]

Replacement pacemaker

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Purkinje fibers also have the ability of firing at a rate of 20–40 beats per minute if upstream conduction or pacemaking ability is compromised.[9]In contrast, the SA node in normal state can fire at 60-100 beats per minute.[9]In short, they generateaction potentials,but at a slower rate than thesinoatrial node.[9]This capability is normally suppressed. Thus, they serve as the last resort when other pacemakers fail. When a Purkinje fiber does fire, it is called apremature ventricular contractionor PVC, or in other situations can be aventricular escape.

Etymology

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Purkinje fibers are named after theCzechscientistJan Evangelista Purkyně,who discovered them in 1839.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Jones, Daniel(2011).Roach, Peter;Setter, Jane;Esling, John(eds.).Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary(18th ed.). Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-15255-6.
  2. ^Feher, Joseph (January 1, 2012), Feher, Joseph (ed.),"5.5 – The Cardiac Action Potential",Quantitative Human Physiology,Boston: Academic Press, pp. 458–466,doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-382163-8.00049-9,ISBN978-0-12-382163-8,retrievedNovember 13,2020
  3. ^Stocum, David L. (January 1, 2012), Stocum, David L. (ed.),"Chapter 7 – Regeneration of Cardiac Muscle and Hematopoietic Tissues",Regenerative Biology and Medicine (Second Edition),San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 161–182,doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-384860-4.00007-1,ISBN978-0-12-384860-4,retrievedNovember 13,2020
  4. ^"Purkinje fiber." The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary. 2007. Houghton Mifflin Company 23 Oct. 2016http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary /Purkinje+fiber
  5. ^abBrooker, Graham (January 1, 2019), Segil, Jacob (ed.),"Chapter Fourteen – Pacemakers",Handbook of Biomechatronics,Academic Press, pp. 567–589,doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-812539-7.00014-3,ISBN978-0-12-812539-7,S2CID239396730,retrievedNovember 13,2020
  6. ^Paxton, Steve; Peckham, Michelle; Knibbs, Adele (2003)."histology of purkinje fibres".
  7. ^Christenson, Jeff (January 1, 2019), Segil, Jacob (ed.),"Chapter Three – Sensors and Transducers",Handbook of Biomechatronics,Academic Press, pp. 61–93,doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-812539-7.00003-9,ISBN978-0-12-812539-7,S2CID117312416,retrievedNovember 13,2020
  8. ^Podrid, Philip J.; Kowey, Peter R. (2010).Cardiac Arrhythmia, Mechanism, Diagnosis and Management.
  9. ^abcBaura, Gail D. (January 1, 2012), Baura, Gail D. (ed.),"Chapter 2 – Electrocardiographs",Medical Device Technologies,Oxford: Academic Press, pp. 39–57,doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374976-5.00002-5,ISBN978-0-12-374976-5,retrievedNovember 13,2020
  10. ^"Jan Evangelista Purkinje | Czech physiologist | Britannica".Britannica.RetrievedJanuary 16,2021.
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