Authors
Shevchenko Yu.L.
Pirogov National Medical and Surgical Center, Moscow
Abstract
Despite modern knowledge of the physiology of a healthy heart, it remains inexplicable that this organ can perform colossal work throughout life, the energy of which would be enough to fly to the moon and back. Considering that the structural units of the heart (cardiomyocytes) do not regenerate, this gigantic work performed by the heart defies explanation, especially with the most powerful physical exertion, stress and various diseases. Long-term clinical observations, experimental studies, morphological analysis, as well as the study of embryonic cardiomyocytes, suggested that the heart functions according to the principle of alternating contraction of cardiomyocytes or their bundles (“shift principle”) — this makes it possible to rest and restore the energy of heart cells.
Conclusion. Despite the fact that the study and analysis of such physiological phenomena as fibrillation, hibernation, and especially the behavior of cardiomyocytes in their embryonic culture indirectly confirm the above concept, further experimental and clinical studies are necessary.
Keywords: normal physiology, cardiomyocytes, alternating principle of contraction.
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