Cardiac myocytes can be characterized by possessing what feature?

Cardiac myocytes, or cardiac muscle cells, are distinguished by their unique structure, which includes striations that are visible under a microscope. These striations result from the organized arrangement of actin and myosin filaments within the myocytes, similar to those found in skeletal muscle cells. This striated appearance is indicative of the contractile properties of cardiac muscle tissue, which is crucial for the heart's function in pumping blood throughout the body.

Cardiac muscle fibers are also unique in that they are branched, allowing for interconnections between cells through structures known as intercalated discs. These specialized junctions facilitate electrical conduction and synchronized contraction of the heart muscle, enabling efficient cardiac function.

The other characteristics listed in the question do not accurately represent cardiac myocytes. For instance, cardiac muscle fibers are not long and non-striated, nor do they contain multiple small nuclei; instead, they typically have one or two centrally located nuclei. Additionally, elastic fibers are not a prominent feature of cardiac muscle tissue, which primarily relies on its striated structure for contraction rather than elasticity.