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Multiple Choice
Compared to skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle:
A
is voluntary and multinucleated
B
lacks striations and contracts slowly
C
is attached to bones and responsible for body movement
D
is involuntary and has intercalated discs
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the characteristics of skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is voluntary, meaning it is under conscious control, and multinucleated, meaning each muscle fiber contains multiple nuclei. It is also striated, which refers to the striped appearance under a microscope.
Step 2: Compare skeletal muscle to cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle is involuntary, meaning it is not under conscious control, and it has intercalated discs, which are specialized connections between cardiac muscle cells that facilitate synchronized contraction.
Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options based on the characteristics of cardiac muscle. For example, cardiac muscle is not voluntary, lacks multinucleation (it typically has one nucleus per cell), and is striated, unlike the option that states it lacks striations.
Step 4: Focus on the unique features of cardiac muscle, such as its involuntary nature and the presence of intercalated discs, which are critical for its function in the heart.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is 'is involuntary and has intercalated discs,' as this accurately describes the defining features of cardiac muscle compared to skeletal muscle.