Final answer:
The myocardium is made up of contractile, cardiac muscle cells, connected to one another at intercalated discs, which consist of desmosomes and gap junctions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most of the myocardium consists of contractile, cardiac muscle cells which are striated, branched, and interconnected. These cells are connected via specialized cell junctions known as intercalated discs. Intercalated discs feature both anchoring junctions and gap junctions, allowing for the synchronization of cardiac muscle contraction. The importance of these interconnections is underscored by the necessity to withstand the dynamic pressure changes of the heartbeat, helping to provide structural support and facilitate efficient cardiac function.
These cells are connected to one another at specialized cell junctions called intercalated discs. Intercalated discs contain both anchoring junctions and gap junctions, allowing the cells to synchronize their actions.