Cardiac muscles are:

Cardiac muscles are:

• A. Striated and have branching fibers
• B. Non-striated and unbranched
• C. Smooth and spindle-shaped
• D. Striated and parallel fibers

Answer: (A)

Cardiac muscle tissue is striated due to the presence of sarcomeres, but its fibers are branched and join together at intercalated discs. This unique branching with intercalated discs enables rapid electrical coupling and coordinated contraction of the heart, so the heart can pump efficiently as a single unit. That combination—striated fibers that branch—is what sets cardiac muscle apart from other muscle types. Non-striated and unbranched describes smooth muscle, which is spindle-shaped. Striated and parallel describes skeletal muscle, which has long, parallel, unbranched fibers.

Cardiac muscle tissue is striated due to the presence of sarcomeres, but its fibers are branched and join together at intercalated discs. This unique branching with intercalated discs enables rapid electrical coupling and coordinated contraction of the heart, so the heart can pump efficiently as a single unit. That combination—striated fibers that branch—is what sets cardiac muscle apart from other muscle types.

Non-striated and unbranched describes smooth muscle, which is spindle-shaped. Striated and parallel describes skeletal muscle, which has long, parallel, unbranched fibers.