MODULE SUPPLEMENT: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Myocardium

So far we have focused on the general vasculature. What happens to the myocardium or heart muscle with age?

A number of changes occur in the heart musculature that influences its function and reserve capacity. Some of these changes appear to be influenced by gender, a fact that has only recently been appreciated.

These changes cause an increase in myocardial stiffness. The septal hypertrophy has clinical importance in that it may mimic certain features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Changes in weight, composition, and wall thickness can have functional significance because they may contribute to decreased left ventricular diastolic compliance and to diastolic dysfunction. This latter effect has been implicated in the high incidence of congestive heart failure in the elderly, a point that will be discussed below.

Additional changes are outlined in the table below and discussed in the next text section.