FIG. 12.

[(a), (b)] Microscopic images of myocardium. (a) Several myofibers (m) and large collagen fibers (colored strands). Note the presence of a dense network of fine collagen fibers (within the orange box). Confocal image. (b) Mesh-like arrangement of fine collagen fiber network (m, myfiber lacunae; cl, capillary lacunae). SEM. Bar = 10 mm. [Reproduced with permission from Macchiarelli et al., Histol. Histopathol. 17(3), 699–706 (2002). Copyright 2002 Histology and Histopathology.²¹) (c) Schematic representation of cardiac tissue structure showing the arrangement of endomysial and perymysial collagen fibers with respect to myofibers. (From Peterson and Bronzino, Biomechanics: Principles and Applications. Copyright 2007 CRC Press. Reproduced with permission from CRC Press.²²)