The heart muscle is called cardiac muscle. It is myogenic. This means it contracts without nervous stimulation. The contractions are initiated within the heart muscle itself. By contrast, other muscles are neurogenic and can only contract when a nerve impulse is received.
Cardiac muscle does not fatigue.The initial stimulus for the contraction of the heart originates from a group of cells in the wall of the right atrium is called the sino-atrial node (SAN). The SAN is also known as the pacemaker.
The SAN generates a regular electrical stimulus 60 to 100 times per minute under normal conditions. These cells have the most rapid inherent rhythm so set the rate for the rest of the heart muscle.
Cardiac muscle does not fatigue.The initial stimulus for the contraction of the heart originates from a group of cells in the wall of the right atrium is called the sino-atrial node (SAN). The SAN is also known as the pacemaker.
The SAN generates a regular electrical stimulus 60 to 100 times per minute under normal conditions. These cells have the most rapid inherent rhythm so set the rate for the rest of the heart muscle.