From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Cardiac muscle is a type of striated muscle found within the heart. Its function is to "pump" blood through the circulatory system; via contraction.
Cardiac muscle generally operates "involuntarily" and rhythmically, without receiving nerve stimulation. The rate of cardiac contractions is generally determined by pacemaker cells. Individual cardiac cells are joined by intercalated discs.
See also: skeletal muscle, smooth muscle
