Is cardiac muscle striated or non-striated?

Cardiac muscle is classified as striated muscle due to its characteristic appearance under a microscope. The striations are the result of the organized arrangement of actin and myosin filaments, which form repeating units called sarcomeres, similar to skeletal muscle. This highly organized structure allows for coordinated contractions that are vital for the heart's function in pumping blood effectively. The presence of these striations distinguishes cardiac muscle from non-striated muscle types like smooth muscle, which lacks this organized banding pattern. This organization is crucial for the rhythmic and powerful contractions needed in cardiac function, highlighting why striated muscle is the correct classification for cardiac muscle.