Muscle tissue cells (myocytes) exhibit contractility to produce motion. These cells are also excitable, i.e., they respond to stimuli. Muscle movements are either voluntary or involuntary.
1. Skeletal Muscle
a. Structure: It comprises long cylindrical fibers and it has many peripheral located nuclei. These muscles are striated.
b. Function: These muscles voluntarily move, produce heat, and protect the organs.
c. Location: They are attached to bones and around entry and exit sites of the body, e.g., mouth and anus.
2. Cardiac Muscle
a. Structure: It is short, striated, and has a single central nucleus. It has branching fibers and intercalated disks.
b. Function: It involuntarily contracts to pump blood.
c. Location: It is found in the heart.
3. Smooth Muscle
a. Structure: It is short, spindle-shaped, has no evident striation, and has a single nucleus in each fiber.
b. Function: It involuntarily moves food, control respiration, controls secretion, and regulates blood flow in arteries by contraction.
c. Location: It is found in the walls of major organs and passageways of the body.
Reference:
Biga, L. M., Dawson, S., Harwell, A., Hopkins, R., Kaufmann, J., LeMaster, M., Matern, P., Morrison-Graham, K., Quick, D., & Runyeon, J. (2019, September 26). 4.4 Muscle Tissue. Oregonstate.education; OpenStax/Oregon State University. https://open.oregonstate.education/aandp/chapter/4-4-muscle-tissue/
Muscle tissue cells (myocytes) exhibit contractility to produce motion. These cells are also excitable, i.e., they respond to stimuli. Muscle movements are either voluntary or involuntary.
1. Skeletal Muscle
a. Structure: It comprises long cylindrical fibers and it has many peripheral located nuclei. These muscles are striated.
b. Function: These muscles voluntarily move, produce heat, and protect the organs.
c. Location: They are attached to bones and around entry and exit sites of the body, e.g., mouth and anus.
2. Cardiac Muscle
a. Structure: It is short, striated, and has a single central nucleus. It has branching fibers and intercalated disks.
b. Function: It involuntarily contracts to pump blood.
c. Location: It is found in the heart.
3. Smooth Muscle
a. Structure: It is short, spindle-shaped, has no evident striation, and has a single nucleus in each fiber.
b. Function: It involuntarily moves food, control respiration, controls secretion, and regulates blood flow in arteries by contraction.
c. Location: It is found in the walls of major organs and passageways of the body.
Reference:
Biga, L. M., Dawson, S., Harwell, A., Hopkins, R., Kaufmann, J., LeMaster, M., Matern, P., Morrison-Graham, K., Quick, D., & Runyeon, J. (2019, September 26). 4.4 Muscle Tissue. Oregonstate.education; OpenStax/Oregon State University. https://open.oregonstate.education/aandp/chapter/4-4-muscle-tissue/