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Related Concept Videos

Location and Orientation of the Heart01:13

Location and Orientation of the Heart

The human heart, despite its modest size and weight, is an organ of remarkable strength and endurance. Roughly the size of a fist, the heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams and is nestled within the mediastinum, the medial cavity of the thorax. It extends obliquely for about 12 to 14 cm, resting on the superior surface of the diaphragm. The heart is positioned anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum, with two-thirds of its mass lying to the left of the midsternal line.
Layers of the Heart Wall01:15

Layers of the Heart Wall

The heart wall comprises three distinct layers: the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The outermost layer, the epicardium, is the visceral layer of the serous pericardium, featuring a thin, transparent mesothelial surface and an inner layer of areolar connective tissue with fat deposits that increase with age.
The myocardium, the thickest layer, consists of cardiac muscle cells interconnected by intercalated discs and crisscrossing connective tissue fibers. These muscle fibers contract...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...

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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
10:21

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix

Published on: June 14, 2016

The heart in scleroderma.

Hunter C Champion1

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 850, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. hcc@jhmi.edu

Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America
|March 11, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scleroderma frequently affects the heart, causing myocardial, conduction, and pericardial diseases. Secondary cardiac dysfunction arises from kidney and lung damage, necessitating further research for effective screening and treatment.

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

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10:21

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Published on: June 14, 2016

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Cardiac Spheroids as in vitro Bioengineered Heart Tissues to Study Human Heart Pathophysiology

Published on: January 23, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Scleroderma is a systemic autoimmune disease with significant cardiac involvement.
  • Cardiac manifestations include myocardial disease, conduction abnormalities, arrhythmias, and pericardial disease.
  • Kidney and lung complications (scleroderma renal crisis, pulmonary hypertension) exacerbate cardiac dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the types and mechanisms of cardiac abnormalities in scleroderma.
  • To highlight the growing interest in cardiac dysfunction in scleroderma and related rheumatologic conditions.
  • To emphasize the need for long-term studies in managing cardiac manifestations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cardiac involvement in scleroderma.
  • Discussion of mechanisms underlying cardiac dysfunction.
  • Consideration of advancements in noninvasive imaging techniques.

Main Results:

  • Scleroderma can directly impact heart muscle, electrical conduction, and the pericardium.
  • Secondary cardiac dysfunction is a significant concern due to renal and pulmonary complications.
  • Subclinical cardiac disease detection is improving with new imaging technologies.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac abnormalities are a major feature of scleroderma, impacting multiple heart components.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction is crucial for patient management.
  • Further long-term research is essential to optimize screening protocols and therapeutic strategies for cardiac manifestations in scleroderma.