Purkinje fibers are like fast wires in the walls of your heart. They carry the heartbeat signal quickly, so the big bottom rooms squeeze all together.
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Cardiac Purkinje fibers (pur-KIN-jee) are special heart cells. They spread out like branching wires just under the inside lining of the two big bottom rooms of your heart.
They are big, pale cells joined end to end. They have fewer squeezing parts than regular heart muscle cells, because their main job is carrying signals.
They are named after a scientist from long ago, Jan Purkinje. Some brain cells are named after him too!
Purkinje fibers carry the heartbeat signal faster than any other heart cells. They bring it to the muscle of the big bottom rooms in a flash.
The squeeze starts near the bottom tip of the heart and moves up. This pushes blood up and out, a bit like squeezing a toothpaste tube from the bottom.
Scroll up to the 3D model and press Send the signal.
By Peekaboo Kidz. A fun video for kids.
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