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Imadeldin Yahya, Beate Brand-Saberi, Gabriela Morosan-Puopolo

• Previously, a single source of \(\underline {progenitor}\) \(\underline {cells}\) was thought to be responsible for the formation of the \(\underline {cardiac}\) \(\underline {muscle}\). However, the second heart field has recently been identified as an additional source of myocardial p\(\underline {progenitor}\) \(\underline {cells}\). The chicken embryo, which develops in the egg, outside the mother can easily be manipulated \(\textit {in vivo}\) and \(\textit {in vitro}\). Hence, it was an excellent model for establishing the concept of the second heart field. Here, our review will focus on the chicken model, specifically its role in understanding the second heart field. In addition to discussing historical aspects, we provide an overview of recent findings that have helped to define the chicken second heart field \(\underline {progenitor}\) \(\underline {cells}\). A better understanding of the second heart field development will provide important insights into the \(\underline {congenital}\) \(\underline {malformations}\) affecting \(\underline {cardiac}\) \(\underline {muscle}\) formation and function.