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An intercalated disc is an undulating double membrane separating adjacent cells in cardiac muscle fibers. Intercalated discs support synchronized contraction of cardiac tissue. They can easily be visualized by a longitudinal section of the tissue.
Three types of membrane junctions exist within an intercalated disc—fascia adherens, macula adherens (aka desmosomes), and gap junctions.
- Macula adherens stop separation during contraction by binding intermediate filaments joining the cells together also called a desmosome.
- Gap junctions allow action potentials to spread between cardiac cells by permitting the passage of ions between cells, producing depolarization of the heart muscle.
When observing cardiac tissue through a microscope, intercalated discs are an identifying feature of cardiac muscle.
See also
External links
- Intercalated+disc at eMedicine Dictionary
- Histology at BU 22502loa - "Ultrastructure of the Cell: cardiac muscle, intercalated disk "
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