Mitochondria in cardiac myocytes are densely packed to form a cell-wide network of communicating organelles that accounts for about 35% of the myocyte’s volume . The lattice-like arrangement of mitochondria, mostly in long and dense rows parallel to the cardiac myocyte myoflaments, has the structural features of a highly ordered network . This specifc mitochondrial network architecture ensures that the large demand of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of cardiac myocytes is met and appropriately distributed. Mitochondria synthesize approximately 30 kg of ATP each day to both provide energy for the basic cellular metabolism and to secure basic physiological functions of the cardiovascular system such as the maintenance of pulmonary and systemic blood pressure during heart contractions . Their intracellular position is closely associated with the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the myoflaments to facilitate cellular distribution of ATP . However, the role of mitochondrial structure and function is not only limited to ATP generation; mitochondria participate in and control numerous metabolic pathways and signaling cascades such as the calcium signaling, redox oxidation, β-oxidation of fatty acids, oxidative phosphorylation, the synthesis of aminoacids, heme and steroids, and cellular apoptosis . Their structural and functional diversity thus surpasses any other cellular organelle.