MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Therefore, intercalated discs are gap junctions that link adjacent cardiac muscles so that electrical impulses can travel between cells and causes to contract almost simultaneously (Severs 1989).

Detailed explanation-2: -Gap junctions within the intercalated disks allow impulses to spread from one cardiac muscle cell to another, allowing sodium, potassium, and calcium ions to flow between adjacent cells, propagating the action potential, and ensuring coordinated contractions.

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.

Detailed explanation-4: -Abstract. Cardiac muscle cells are equipped with three distinct types of intercellular junction–gap junctions, “spot” desmosomes, and “sheet” desmosomes (or fasciae adherentes)–located in a specialized portion of the plasma membrane, the intercalated disk.