Normal Heart (32000-01000)
This section shows normal adult myocardium. Note the size ratio of nucleus and cytoplasm. There is a delicate interstitial supporting stroma and rich vascularity.

Hypertrophied Heart (33000-71000)
Compare the previous section with this one (higher magnification). In the hypertrophied heart, the myocardial cells are enlarged and have large, hyperchromatic nuclei. There is an increased amount of interstitial connective tissue. The combination of relatively increased oxygen demand and relatively decreased vascularity can contribute to functional compromise of the hypertrophied heart.