Final answer:
Cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscles differ in structure and behavior. Cardiac and skeletal muscles are striated and contain sarcomeres, while smooth muscle does not. Cardiac muscle connects at branching angles and contracts in short bursts, while smooth muscle sustains longer contractions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart and is more similar in structure to skeletal muscle. Both cardiac and skeletal muscles are striated and contain sarcomeres, while smooth muscle does not. Cardiac muscle connects at branching angles, while skeletal muscles are arranged in parallel bundles. Cardiac muscle contracts in short, intense bursts, while smooth muscle sustains longer contractions.