“…McEwan (169) lists the suggested origins of fixed connective tissue cells. The two major theories are that (i) the Aschoff cells are nonmyogenic mesenchymal cells (9,15,139,148,187,199,243,259,276,279) and (ii) they are myogenetic in origin (5,18,174,180,182,183,277). According to Becker and Murphy (18), Aschoff bodies are central to the pathology of rheumatic heart disease, which is in opposition to Stollerman's (249,250) opinion that Aschoff lesions cannot account for the serious myocardial failure of severe rheumatic carditis.…”