Contractions of the heart (heartbeats) are controlled by specialized cardiac muscle cells called pacemaker cells

that directly control heart rate. ... The wave of contraction that allows the heart to work as a unit, called a functional syncytium, begins with the pacemaker cells.

Why is heart called functional syncytium?

The syncytium of cardiac muscle is important because it allows rapid coordinated contraction of muscles along their entire length. ... Cardiac tissue is therefore described as a functional syncytium, as opposed to the true syncytium of skeletal muscle.

What does syncytium muscle mean?

A syncytium is a single cell that contains multiple nuclei. In humans, syncytia can be found in the skeletal muscles. These muscles are made up of fibers, which are long syncytia. ... Being a large syncytium allows them to grow and reproduce readily, and they can regrow even if significantly damaged.