Cardiac Muscle Features

branched

Cardiac muscle cells are _________, enabling rapid, synchronized, and powerful contractions

intercalated discs

Cardiac muscle cells contain _____________ _____—it is their unique feature.

3-5

Cardiac muscle cells are multinucleated with around _ - _ nuclei.

junctions

Intercalated discs are found at cell-cell __________.

1) Desmosomes 2) Gap junctions

Intercalated discs contain TWO structural features that link cardiac muscle cells together. What are they?

desmosomes

This structural feature of cardiac muscle’s intercalated discs is PROTEIN FILAMENTS that ANCHOR into the protein plaque of the sarcolemma, what is it?

hold cells together

What is the function of desmosomes?

gap junctions

These structural features of cardiac muscle are PROTEIN PORES BETWEEN the sarcolemma.

1) Allow the action potential to be propagated continuously

2) Trigger synchronous contraction and relaxation across cells

What are the functions of gap junctions?