CVS Practice Test

The correct choice is gap junctions, which are specialized intercellular connections that allow for direct communication between adjacent myocytes (heart muscle cells). Gap junctions are formed by connexins, which create channels that facilitate the passage of ions and small molecules, enabling electrical signals to propagate quickly and effectively through the myocardium. This rapid transmission is crucial for maintaining synchronized contractions of the heart muscle, allowing for coordinated heartbeats.

While desmosomes play a key role in providing structural integrity by anchoring myocytes to each other and resisting mechanical stress, they do not facilitate communication in the way gap junctions do. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers used in synaptic transmission in nervous tissue rather than direct cell-to-cell communication in muscle tissue. Purkinje fibers are specialized fibers in the heart that help conduct electrical impulses, but they do not serve as a means for intercellular communication between myocytes. Thus, gap junctions are essential for ensuring proper communication and functionality in cardiac tissues.