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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

48.0K
Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
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Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

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The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...
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Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

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Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
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Conduction System of the Heart01:19

Conduction System of the Heart

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Autorhythmicity is a term that refers to the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical signals and instigate muscle contractions. This self-regulating conduction system within the heart consists of two key components: the pacemaker cells and specialized conducting cells.
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
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Conduction System of the Heart01:20

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The cardiac conduction system produces and transmits electrical impulses that prompt myocardial contraction, ensuring efficient heart function. This intricate system ensures that the heart beats in a coordinated and efficient manner, beginning with the atria and then the ventricles. The conduction system optimizes cardiac output by maintaining this precise sequence, which is crucial for adequate blood circulation.
This system relies on the unique properties of nodal and Purkinje cells:...
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Structure of Cardiac Muscles01:13

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Cardiac muscle, or myocardium, is a specialized type of muscle found exclusively in the heart. Its unique structural and functional characteristics enable the heart to perform its vital role of pumping blood throughout the body continuously and rhythmically. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, possess an endomysium and perimysium but do not have an epimysium.
Compared to skeletal muscles, cardiac muscle cells are small and mostly have a single nucleus. Additionally, they are usually...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Whole-Mount Immunofluorescence Staining, Confocal Imaging and 3D Reconstruction of the Sinoatrial and Atrioventricular Node in the Mouse
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Connexins in the heart.

Pier D Lambiase1, Andrew Tinker

  • 1Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Heart Hospital, UCL, 16-18 Westmoreland Street, London, W1G 8PH, UK, pier.lambiase@uclh.nhs.uk.

Cell and Tissue Research
|November 1, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Connexins are vital for heart electrical signals and conduction speed. Their malfunction contributes to irregular heart rhythms and various cardiac diseases, as reviewed here.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Connexins form gap junctions crucial for cardiac electrical impulse propagation.
  • Conduction velocity is significantly influenced by connexin function.
  • Connexin dysfunction is implicated in the development of arrhythmias and cardiac pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental biology of cardiac connexins.
  • To focus on the aberrant function of connexins in the context of heart disease.
  • To highlight the role of connexins in cardiac electrophysiology and disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of basic connexin biology.
  • Analysis of studies investigating connexin function in cardiac disease models.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on connexin roles in cardiac pathologies.

Main Results:

  • Connexins are key regulators of intercellular communication in the heart.
  • Altered connexin expression and function are linked to diverse cardiac conditions.
  • Understanding connexin abnormalities is critical for diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Connexins play a critical role in maintaining normal cardiac electrical activity.
  • Connexin dysfunction is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias.
  • Further research into connexin biology offers therapeutic potential for heart disease.