What are the types of cardiac muscle?

What are the types of cardiac muscle?

There are two major types of cardiac muscle cells: myocardial contractile cells and myocardial conducting cells. The myocardial contractile cells constitute the bulk (99 percent) of the cells in the atria and ventricles. Contractile cells conduct impulses and are responsible for contractions that pump blood through the body.

What is the function of cardiac muscle?

Cardiac muscle is an involuntary muscle that is activated by an electrical conduction system. The function of the cardiac muscle is to pump oxygenated blood from the lungs into and throughout the body and pump deoxygenated blood from the body to the lungs, where it is exchanged for freshly oxygenated blood.

Is cardiac muscle striated?

At the microscopic level, cardiac muscle is organized much like skeletal muscle. Both muscle tissues are striated, meaning they show dark and light bands when viewed under a microscope. These band are created by the highly organized sarcomeres.

What shape is the cardiac muscle?

Cardiac muscle, found in the walls of the heart, is also under control of the autonomic nervous system. The cardiac muscle cell has one central nucleus, like smooth muscle, but it also is striated, like skeletal muscle. The cardiac muscle cell is rectangular in shape.

What is the structure of cardiac muscle tissue?

Cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle tissue or myocardium forms the bulk of the heart. The heart wall is a three layered structure with a thick layer of myocardium sandwiched between the inner endocardium and the outer epicardium (also known as the visceral pericardium).

What is the definition of cardiac muscle tissue?

Cardiac Muscle Definition. Cardiac muscle, also known as heart muscle, is the layer of muscle tissue which lies between the endocardium and epicardium. These inner and outer layers of the heart, respectively, surround the cardiac muscle tissue and separate it from the blood and other organs.