Final answer:
False. The heart does not contain stem cells that can regenerate damaged heart muscle. Dead cardiac muscle tissue is typically replaced by scar tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. While it was previously thought that the heart contained stem cells that could regenerate damaged heart muscle, recent evidence suggests that the regenerative capacity of the heart is extremely limited. The heart primarily consists of cardiac muscle tissue, which has a limited ability to repair itself. Dead cardiac muscle tissue is typically replaced by scar tissue, which cannot contract.
Some other types of muscle tissue, such as smooth muscle, have a greater ability to regenerate. For example, smooth muscle tissue can regenerate from stem cells called pericytes. However, cardiac muscle tissue does not regenerate to a great extent.