[Fragmentation of the myocardium: facts and hypotheses]

Histological examination of the myocardium in section and operation material and in experimental animals allowed two different types of its fragmentation to be distinguished. Type I is characterized by cellular dissociation of the muscle fibers, develops during life and may be accompanied by stromal reaction ending in sclerosis. Type II is of artificial nature and depends both on the direction of microtoming of the muscle fibers and on their increased fragility the nature of which is obscure as yet. Combination of both types of fragmentation in the same muscle fibers makes difficult their distinct differentiation.