[Morphology of myocardial infarct].

The biochemical, histochemical, electron microscopic and light microscopic changes in acute ischemic myocardial damage and infarction are reviewed. Early morphologic indicators of irreversible myocardial damage are rupture of the sarcolemma and contraction band necrosis. The size of the infarction increases with the duration of ischemia. Therapy resulting in early reperfusion minimizes the size of the infarction but may cause reperfusion damage.