Muscle & Muscle Tissue
Learning Unit 18
Anatomy and physiology
These notes are for personal use only and are not to be distributed or shared without express permission. Please do
not reproduce, copy, or distribute these notes in any form or by any means. Doing so is a violation of confidentiality
and may result in legal action. Thank you for respecting the confidentiality of these notes.
, Learning Unit 18 muscle & muscle tissue
Muscle tissue
a. Skeletal muscle tissue
• Longest muscle cells and have striations (stripes)
• This is normally a voluntary muscle (as its subject to voluntary control)
Characteristics:
• Overall body mobility
• Contracts rapidly
• Exerts tremendous power
• Adaptable
• Tires easily and must rest after short periods of activity
b. Cardiac muscle tissue
• Occurs only in the heart (bulk of heart walls)
• Muscle cells are striated
• Involuntary
Characteristics:
• Can contract without being stimulated by the nervous system
• Usually contract at a fairly steady rate set by the hearts peacemaker
c. Smooth muscles
• Found in walls of hallow visceral organs
• Consists of Elongated cells
• No striations
• Involuntary
Characteristics :
• Force fluids and other substances through internal body channels
• Forms valves to regulate the passages of these substances
• Dilates and constrict pupils
• Contractions are slow and sustained
Learning Unit 18
Anatomy and physiology
These notes are for personal use only and are not to be distributed or shared without express permission. Please do
not reproduce, copy, or distribute these notes in any form or by any means. Doing so is a violation of confidentiality
and may result in legal action. Thank you for respecting the confidentiality of these notes.
, Learning Unit 18 muscle & muscle tissue
Muscle tissue
a. Skeletal muscle tissue
• Longest muscle cells and have striations (stripes)
• This is normally a voluntary muscle (as its subject to voluntary control)
Characteristics:
• Overall body mobility
• Contracts rapidly
• Exerts tremendous power
• Adaptable
• Tires easily and must rest after short periods of activity
b. Cardiac muscle tissue
• Occurs only in the heart (bulk of heart walls)
• Muscle cells are striated
• Involuntary
Characteristics:
• Can contract without being stimulated by the nervous system
• Usually contract at a fairly steady rate set by the hearts peacemaker
c. Smooth muscles
• Found in walls of hallow visceral organs
• Consists of Elongated cells
• No striations
• Involuntary
Characteristics :
• Force fluids and other substances through internal body channels
• Forms valves to regulate the passages of these substances
• Dilates and constrict pupils
• Contractions are slow and sustained
