Chapter 32, Problem 35A

Summary Introduction

To compare:

The structure of skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle.

Introduction:

Skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles are the three types of vertebrate muscle tissue.

Explanation of Solution

Skeletal muscle is a striated muscle that are joined with the bones by the different bundles of collagen fibers called tendons.

Cardiac muscle or myocardium is a type of vertebrate muscle. They constitute the tissue of the heart wall and control its contraction. They keep the pumping of the heart by involuntary movements which id done with the help of pacemaker cells.

Smooth muscle is a type of vertebrate muscle tissue, used for applying pressure to organs. It is formed of sheets of smooth cells. Other proteins support the fibers of actin and myosin running throughout the cell. They are present in the walls of hollow organs as in the stomach, uterus, intestine, etc.

Conclusion

Muscle type shown in A is a smooth muscle cell that is involuntary. The cells are non-striated and contain a single nucleus. They are tapered. The muscle type shown in B is cardiac muscle cell is an involuntary muscle cell. The cells are striated and contain a single nucleus. They have a branched structure. The muscle type shown in C is a skeletal muscle cell that is voluntary. The cells are multinucleated and striated. They are not branched.