Final answer:
The subendocardial conducting network, known as the Purkinje fibers, indeed depolarizes the contractile cells of both ventricles, ensuring efficient spread of the electrical impulse and subsequent heart contraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the subendocardial conducting network is also known as the Purkinje fibers and functions to depolarize the contractile cells of both ventricles. The Purkinje fibers extend from the apex of the heart toward the atrioventricular septum and the base of the heart, ensuring that the depolarization spreads throughout the myocardium of the ventricles efficiently.
With a fast inherent conduction rate, the electrical impulse from the Purkinje fibers reaches all of the ventricular muscle cells within approximately 75 ms. This electrical sequence initiates contraction beginning at the apex and moving toward the base, much like squeezing a tube of toothpaste, allowing blood to be effectively pumped from the ventricles into the aorta and pulmonary trunk.