MICROANATOMY

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. 3b).

Detailed explanation-2: -Gap junctions are responsible for electrical coupling and the transfer of small molecules between cells, whereas the desmosomelike junctions (also known as adherens junctions) provide strong intercellular adhesion.

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: -Fascia adherens junctions (anchoring junctions) where actin filaments attach thin filaments in the muscle sarcomeres to the cell membrane. Expanded desmosomes. Gap junctions.