What type of muscle is involuntary and found in the heart?

Cardiac muscle is involuntary, meaning it operates automatically without conscious control, and it is specifically found in the heart. This type of muscle is unique to the cardiac system and is designed to pump blood throughout the body continuously and rhythmically.

Cardiac muscle cells are interconnected by intercalated discs, which facilitate synchronized contractions, allowing the heart to function efficiently as a pump. This muscle type is striated, indicating that it has a banded appearance under the microscope, but its involuntary nature and location in the heart distinctly classify it as cardiac muscle.

Other muscle types, such as skeletal muscle, are voluntary and are primarily responsible for movement associated with the skeletal system. Visceral muscle, on the other hand, is also involuntary but is predominantly found in the walls of hollow organs, like the intestines and blood vessels, rather than the heart. Striated muscle refers to both skeletal and cardiac muscle due to their appearance but does not specify the involuntary nature or the specific location of the muscle.