Which of the following is a characteristic of cardiac muscle?

Cardiac muscle is characterized by being involuntary and striated. This means that it operates without conscious control, functioning automatically to pump blood throughout the body. The striated quality refers to the specific banded appearance of cardiac muscle fibers, which is a result of the organized arrangement of actin and myosin filaments within the muscle cells. This organization is crucial for the efficient contraction and function of the heart.

In contrast, smooth muscle, which is found in the stomach and lining of blood vessels, is also involuntary but lacks the striated appearance. The ability to regenerate quickly is more characteristic of certain types of connective tissue rather than cardiac muscle, as cardiac muscle has limited regenerative ability. Finally, skeletal muscle, which is under voluntary control, is the type of muscle found in the limbs, not cardiac muscle. Thus, the identifying features of cardiac muscle help to distinguish it from other muscle types in the body.