Purkinje fibers

The Purkinje fibers, named for Jan Evangelista Purkyně, (English: /pɜːrˈkɪndʒi/ pur-KIN-jee; Czech: [ˈpurkɪɲɛ] ^ⓘ; Purkinje tissue or subendocardial branches) are located in the inner ventricular walls of the heart, just beneath the endocardium in a space called the subendocardium. The Purkinje fibers are specialized conducting fibers composed of electrically excitable cells. They are larger than cardiomyocytes with fewer myofibrils and many mitochondria. They conduct cardiac action potentials more quickly and efficiently than any of the other cells in the heart's electrical conduction system. Purkinje fibers allow the heart's conduction system to create synchronized contractions of its ventricles, and are essential for maintaining healthy and consistent heart rhythm.