ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Intercalated discs are part of the cardiac muscle sarcolemma, so they also contain gap junctions for depolarization between muscle fibers and desmosomes that hold the fibers together during cardiac muscle contraction (Fig.

Detailed explanation-2: -Intercalated discs ensure that the cardiac muscle functions as a single and well-coordinated unit. They hold and bind the cardiac muscle cells through fascia adherens and desmosomes, and ensure that the contractile force is transmitted from one cardiac muscle cell to another.

Detailed explanation-3: -Intercalated discs are complex structures that connect adjacent cardiac muscle cells. The three types of cell junction recognised as making up an intercalated disc are desmosomes, fascia adherens junctions, and gap junctions. Fascia adherens are anchoring sites for actin, and connect to the closest sarcomere.

Detailed explanation-4: -Final Answer: Intercalated discs are present in the Cardiac muscle.

Detailed explanation-5: -Classically, the ICD is described as containing three known functional “zones”: (1) the fascia adherens, (2) desmosomes and the (3) gap junctions (Fig. 2).