Figure 3:

Understanding cardiac tissue function is complicated by the common functions across the diverse cell types. Cell types associated with the cardiac and microvascular systems are often considered to be distinct, yet common cell functions highlight their potential overlaps along a cellular continuum. Each specific cell function can be attributed to or influenced by multiple cell types. The solid lines represent functional links and are not inclusive of all overlaps. The potential for shared mechanisms across cell types and cell-cell interactions motivates future research focused on novel models and approaches that enable multi-scale integration.