Muscular Tissue Characteristics

Characteristics of Muscular Tissue

• Voluntary (skeletal) and involuntary (smooth and cardiac) types
• Specialized for contraction and relaxation
• High degree of elasticity and extensibility

Types of Muscular Tissue

Skeletal Muscle (Voluntary)

• Attached to bones and helps move body parts
• Striated (striped) appearance under microscope
• Multinucleated (many nuclei)
• Voluntary control (conscious movement)

Smooth Muscle (Involuntary)

• Found in hollow organs (e.g., digestive tract, blood vessels)
• Non-striated (smooth) appearance under microscope
• Spindle-shaped cells with single nucleus
• Involuntary control (automatic movement)

Cardiac Muscle (Involuntary)

• Found in heart
• Striated appearance under microscope
• Branching fibers with single nucleus
• Involuntary control (automatic heartbeat)

Functions of Muscular Tissue

• Movement and locomotion (skeletal muscle)
• Regulation of body functions (smooth muscle)
• Pumping blood (cardiac muscle)
• Maintenance of posture and balance (skeletal muscle)

Characteristics of Muscular Tissue

• Muscular tissue is specialized for contraction and relaxation
• Has a high degree of elasticity and extensibility
• Comprises two main types: voluntary and involuntary

Types of Muscular Tissue

Skeletal Muscle (Voluntary)

• Attached to bones, enabling movement of body parts
• Displays a striated (striped) appearance under a microscope
• Consists of multinucleated cells
• Controlled voluntarily, allowing for conscious movement

Smooth Muscle (Involuntary)

• Found in hollow organs, such as the digestive tract and blood vessels
• Exhibits a non-striated (smooth) appearance under a microscope
• Composed of spindle-shaped cells with a single nucleus
• Controlled involuntarily, resulting in automatic movement

Cardiac Muscle (Involuntary)

• Exclusive to the heart, responsible for pumping blood
• Displays a striated appearance under a microscope
• Consists of branching fibers with a single nucleus
• Controlled involuntarily, regulating the heartbeat automatically

Functions of Muscular Tissue

• Enables movement and locomotion through skeletal muscle
• Regulates various body functions, such as digestion and blood pressure, via smooth muscle
• Pumps blood throughout the body through cardiac muscle
• Maintains posture and balance, thanks to skeletal muscle