GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Gap junctions are particularly important in cardiac muscle: the electrical signal to contract spreads rapidly between heart muscle cells as ions pass through gap junctions, allowing the cells to contract in tandem.

Detailed explanation-2: -Cardiac myocytes (muscle cells) need to be able to contract in unison in order to ensure proper pumping of blood. This is accomplished by specialized junctions called gap junctions that allow cells to communicate with one another very quickly.

Detailed explanation-3: -Cardiac muscle cells are equipped with three distinct types of intercellular junction–gap junctions, “spot” desmosomes, and “sheet” desmosomes (or fasciae adherentes)–located in a specialized portion of the plasma membrane, the intercalated disk.

Detailed explanation-4: -Communicating junctions (gap junctions or nexus), are channels that allow passage of small molecules and ions between two cells and are formed by the connexin family of proteins.

Detailed explanation-5: -Gap junctions are low-resistance channels between cells (intercellular connections) that allow for the passage of electrical impulses, molecules, and ions. Gap junctions are important because they allow for electrical signals to pass between cardiomyocytes, allowing for synchronous communication and contraction.