Final answer:
Cardiomyocytes are similar to skeletal muscle due to the presence of striations. They differ, however, by typically having a single nucleus and unique intercalated discs. Additionally, cardiac muscle operates involuntarily, while skeletal muscle requires voluntary action.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cardiomyocytes are similar to skeletal muscle because they have striations. Like skeletal muscles, cardiomyocytes show a striped appearance under the microscope due to the organized arrangement of myofilaments in sarcomeres. However, in contrast to skeletal muscle fibers, cardiomyocytes typically have a single, centrally located nucleus and possess unique features such as intercalated discs, which are special junctions that connect adjacent cardiac muscle cells and facilitate synchronized contraction.Another distinguishing factor between cardiac and skeletal muscle is their form of control and rhythmicity.
Cardiac muscle is under involuntary control, meaning it functions autonomously and does not require intentional thought to operate. This is unlike skeletal muscle, which is voluntary and requires conscious effort to move.Smooth muscles differ from skeletal and cardiac muscles primarily because they lack striations and are also not under voluntary control. While all muscle types include actin and myosin filaments necessary for contraction, the arrangement within smooth muscles does not form a patterned, striated structure.