Which statements describe cardiac muscle tissue?

Which statements describe cardiac muscle tissue?

• A. This tissue is branched and contains intercalated discs
• B. This tissue is under the control of autonomic nervous system
• C. This tissue is striated
• D. All of the answers are correct

Answer: (D)

Cardiac muscle tissue is a specialized, involuntary muscle with several distinctive features. Its fibers are branched and connect at intercalated discs, which contain gap junctions for rapid electrical coupling and desmosomes for strong mechanical adhesion, allowing the heart to contract in a coordinated, rhythmic way. It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, meaning it responds to sympathetic and parasympathetic input to adjust heart rate and force, even though you don’t consciously control it. It is also striated, reflecting the same sarcomere organization found in skeletal muscle. Because each of these characteristics applies, all of the statements describe cardiac muscle tissue.

Cardiac muscle tissue is a specialized, involuntary muscle with several distinctive features. Its fibers are branched and connect at intercalated discs, which contain gap junctions for rapid electrical coupling and desmosomes for strong mechanical adhesion, allowing the heart to contract in a coordinated, rhythmic way. It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, meaning it responds to sympathetic and parasympathetic input to adjust heart rate and force, even though you don’t consciously control it. It is also striated, reflecting the same sarcomere organization found in skeletal muscle. Because each of these characteristics applies, all of the statements describe cardiac muscle tissue.