What is cardiac muscle classified as?

Cardiac muscle is classified as involuntary muscle because it operates without conscious control. This type of muscle is found only in the heart and is responsible for pumping blood. Involuntary muscles are automatically regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which means we do not have to think about their functioning for them to contract and relax effectively.

While striated muscle refers to the appearance of the cardiac muscle under a microscope, it is not the primary classification. Cardiac muscle does show striations, similar to skeletal muscle, yet differs in its function and control. Voluntary muscle, on the other hand, is under conscious control, which does not apply to cardiac muscle as we cannot consciously control our heart's beating. Skeletal muscle, while also striated, is distinctly different from cardiac muscle in both location and function, as it is primarily attached to bones and allows for movement of the skeleton.