Chapter 10, Problem 1CP

What features distinguish the three types of muscular tissue?

Summary Introduction

To review:

The feature of the three types of muscular tissues, which differentiates them from each other.

Introduction:

There are three kinds of muscle tissues: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal. The cardiac muscles are found in the walls of the heart, which are under involuntary control. The smooth muscles are found in the walls of the hollow visceral organs, which are under involuntary control. The skeletal muscles can be seen attached to the skeleton, which is under voluntary control.

Explanation of Solution

The differences in these three muscles are given as follows:

Cardiac muscles	Smooth muscles	Skeletal muscles
They consist of striations, which can be seen under a microscope.	They appear smooth under the microscope	They can be seen striped under the microscope.
They do not fatigue throughout the life.	They get fatigued slowly and rhythmically.	They fatigue faster than the cardiac muscles and smooth muscles.
They are responsible for the generation of a heartbeat.	They basically maintain the flow of fluids and food along the hollow structures.	They are involved in movement and locomotion.
They are controlled by the central nervous system (CNS) but contract without signals because of pacemaker cells.	They are under a control of the autonomic part of the nervous system.	They are controlled by the motor neurons of the nervous system.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that the cardiac and smooth muscle operates on involuntary basis while the skeletal muscles are under voluntary control. In general, these muscles vary on the basis of striations, location, function, and performance.