Figure 1.

Stretched, i.e. elongation of sarcomeres and nuclei in viable myocardial cells in an old aneurysm of the left ventricular wall with dense fibrosis [A]. Dense and compact fibrosis as end result of a repair process of an infarct. The collagen fibers are straight and closed together [B]. In contrast in hearts with congestive heart failure the myocardial fibrosis is very mild [C, D] showing a corkscrew aspect of the collagen fibers [E]. This means an adaptation of the collagenogenesis to the contraction cycle without any capability to reduce or stop the latter. Furthermore, the fibrous tissue may metaplasize in adipose tissue which substitutes large fibrous area [F, G]. A fact to have in mind when quantifying the size of a scar or measuring by nuclear method the myocardial viability.