heart muscle
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The muscle tissue of the heart; adapted to continued rhythmic contraction: "Heart muscle" refers specifically to the specialized muscular tissue that makes up the walls of the heart. It is uniquely structured to contract rhythmically and tirelessly throughout a lifetime to pump blood.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Regular exercise strengthens the heart muscle.
- The cardiologist explained that the damage was localized to the heart muscle.
- This condition causes inflammation of the heart muscle.
Advanced Usage
- In medical/biological contexts: The term is used precisely to distinguish this tissue from skeletal or smooth muscle. It is often discussed in relation to its function, health, and diseases.
- The biopsy confirmed the presence of scar tissue in the heart muscle.
- Figurative use for strength or vitality: While less common, it can be used metaphorically to refer to the core strength or emotional center of something.
- The volunteers are the heart muscle of this community organization.
Variants and Related Words
- Myocardium (n): The medical/technical term for the heart muscle.
- The echocardiogram assesses the thickness and movement of the myocardium.
- Cardiac muscle (n): A synonymous scientific term.
- Cardiac muscle cells are connected by intercalated discs.
Synonyms
- Myocardium: The middle and thickest layer of the heart wall, composed of cardiac muscle.
- Cardiac muscle: Muscle tissue found only in the heart.
Related Phrases
- Heart muscle disease: A general term for conditions affecting the myocardium.
- Cardiomyopathy is a type of progressive heart muscle disease.
- Heart muscle cell: Also called a cardiomyocyte, the individual contractile cell of the heart.
- The research focuses on regenerating damaged heart muscle cells.
Related Idioms
Note: There are no common idioms that use the exact phrase "heart muscle." Idioms related to the heart (e.g., "break a heart," "have a heart") refer to emotion or courage, not the anatomical tissue.
Noun
- the muscle tissue of the heart; adapted to continued rhythmic contraction