Final answer:
Cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, feature autorhythmicity and interconnect through intercalated discs, allowing them to contract synchronously to pump blood. They are striated, branched, with a single nucleus, and have many mitochondria, adapting them uniquely for the heart's function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The unique properties of cardiac muscle cells are closely tied to their function, which is to pump blood throughout the body. Cardiac muscle, or cardiomyocytes, are striated muscle cells similar to skeletal muscle cells, but with several distinct features that facilitate their role in the cardiovascular system. A defining property of these cells is autorhythmicity, meaning they can initiate and propagate an electrical potential to trigger contractions without external stimulation. Cardiomyocytes connect through structures known as intercalated discs, which contain anchoring junctions to withstand the heart's dynamic pressure changes and gap junctions to synchronize contraction. Unlike skeletal muscle fibers, cardiomyocytes are usually branched, have a single nucleus, and rely on aerobic metabolism, possessing a plethora of mitochondria to resist fatigue. Together, conducting and contractile cells form a network that efficiently coordinates the heart's contractions.