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This is because the heart needs enough time to pump blood out to the main arteries.

The action potential of the heart (ventricles) is elongated by the opening of the voltage gated Calcium channels causing an influx of positively charged Calcium ions to the inside of the muscle cells and therefor maintaining the depolarized (excited) state of the cell membrane for a longer period of time. This is phase 2 of the action potential which is also called the Plateu Phase.

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Q: Why is the action potential of the cardiac muscle cells long?
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The plateau portion of the action potential in contractile cardiac muscle cells is due to?

The plateau portion of the action potential in contractile cardiac muscle cells is due to the balance between calcium influx and potassium efflux. This balance helps to maintain prolonged depolarization, allowing for sustained contraction of the heart muscle.


Why couldn't your heart have cardiac tissue?

Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but it can also carry an action potential (i.e. conduct electricity), like the neurons that constitute nerves. Furthermore, some of the cells have the ability to generate an action potential, known as cardiac muscle automaticity. (Some cells can make the heart beat on its own.) This doesn't occur in any other type of muscle tissue. This ability can keep the heart pumping even under disease conditions.


Where is the only place you can find cardiac muscles?

Cardiac muscle is a type of involuntary striated muscle found only in the walls of the heart. This is a specialized muscle that, while similar in some fundamental ways to smooth muscle and skeletal muscle, has a unique structure and with an ability not possessed by muscle tissue elsewhere in the body. Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but it can also carry an action potential (i.e. conduct electricity), like the neurons that constitute nerves.Furthermore, some of the cells have the ability to generate an action potential, known as cardiac muscle automaticity (meaning the can and do beat on their own).


Why couldn't your heart have only only cardiac tissue?

Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but it can also carry an action potential (i.e. conduct electricity), like the neurons that constitute nerves. Furthermore, some of the cells have the ability to generate an action potential, known as cardiac muscle automaticity. (Some cells can make the heart beat on its own.) This doesn't occur in any other type of muscle tissue. This ability can keep the heart pumping even under disease conditions.


Why couldn't your heart only have cardiac tissue?

Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but it can also carry an action potential (i.e. conduct electricity), like the neurons that constitute nerves. Furthermore, some of the cells have the ability to generate an action potential, known as cardiac muscle automaticity. (Some cells can make the heart beat on its own.) This doesn't occur in any other type of muscle tissue. This ability can keep the heart pumping even under disease conditions.


Do smooth muscles have branched cells?

No, cardiac muscle cells are branched but skeletal muscle cells are linear and do not branch


Muscle tissue that has intercalated disks?

cardiac muscle cells are joined by intercalated disks.


What cells make up the myocardium?

The myocardium is composed of cardiomyocytes, which are specialized muscle cells that form the heart muscle tissue. These cells are responsible for contraction of the heart and pumping blood throughout the body.


Can the heart contain smooth muscle?

No, they are not. Cardiac muscle is a type of involuntary striated muscle found only in the walls of the heart.This is a specialized muscle that, while similar in some fundamental ways to smooth muscle and skeletal muscle, has a unique structure and with an ability not possessed by muscle tissue elsewhere in the body. Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but some of the cells have the ability to generate an action potential, known as cardiac muscle automaticity. Meaning that some of the cells can beat on their own without any nerve stimulation.


What is the cardiac muscle?

thick and thin bands (lines) of filaments.


Which muscle cells commonly branch?

Cardiac muscle cells commonly branch. This branching structure allows for coordinated contraction of the heart muscle, facilitating efficient blood pumping throughout the body.


What is unusual about cardiac muscle?

The muscle has unique features that are only in the heart. These muscles are involuntary striated muscle which are only found in the wall of the heart. This is specialised muscle that can contract, Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but it can also carry an action potential (i.e. conduct electricity), like the neurons that constitute nerves. Furthermore, some of the cells have the ability to generate an action potential, known as cardiac muscle automaticity.