Muscular Tissue Structure and Functions

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Questions and Answers

Explain the structural differences among the three types of muscular tissue.

Structural differences among cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle tissues include striation patterns, voluntary vs involuntary control, and where they are located in the body.

Compare the functions and special properties of the three types of muscular tissue.

Skeletal muscle facilitates movement, cardiac muscle pumps blood, and smooth muscle manages involuntary functions in internal organs.

What are the general characteristics of skeletal muscle tissue?

Striated, voluntary, primarily attached to bones.

What are the general characteristics of cardiac muscle tissue?

Striated, involuntary, forms the wall of the heart. Signup and view all the answers

What are the general characteristics of smooth muscle tissue?

Nonstriated, involuntary, located primarily in the internal organs. Signup and view all the answers

List the general functions of muscular tissue.

Producing movements, stabilizing body positions, storing and moving substances within the body, generating heat (thermogenesis). Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of skeletal muscle tissue?

Producing body movements, stabilizing body positions, generating heat (thermogenesis). Signup and view all the answers

How does skeletal muscle tissue produce body movements?

Movements of the whole body are a result of muscular contractions that rely on the integrated functioning of skeletal muscles, bones, and joints. Signup and view all the answers

How does skeletal muscle tissue stabilize body positions?

Skeletal muscle contractions stabilize joints and help maintain body positions (such as standing or sitting) because postural muscles contract continuously. Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of cardiac muscle tissue?

Moves substances within the body. Signup and view all the answers

How does cardiac muscle tissue move substances within the body?

Cardiac muscle contractions of the heart pump blood through the blood vessels of the body. Signup and view all the answers

What are all the ways in which smooth muscle tissue accomplishes storage?

Sustained contractions of sphincters prevent outflow of contents of a hollow organ, regulate blood flow via vessel diameter adjustments, move food through the GI tract, push gametes through reproductive pathways, propel urine through urinary systems. Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of smooth muscle tissue?

Storage and moving substances within the body. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four special properties of muscular tissue?

Electrical excitability, contractility, extensibility, elasticity. Signup and view all the answers

What do the four special properties enable muscular tissue to do?

Enable muscular tissue to function and contribute to homeostasis. Signup and view all the answers

Define electrical excitability.

The ability to respond to certain stimuli by producing electrical signals called action potentials. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of stimuli that trigger action potential in muscular tissue?

Autorhythmic electrical stimuli and chemical stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

Define contractility.

The ability of muscular tissue to contract forcefully when stimulated by an action potential. Signup and view all the answers

Describe what happens when skeletal muscle contracts.

When a skeletal muscle contracts, it generates tension (force of contraction) while pulling on its attachment points. Signup and view all the answers

Define extensibility.

The ability of muscular tissue to stretch, within limits, without being damaged. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of muscle tissue is subject to the greatest amount of stretching?

Smooth muscle tissue. Signup and view all the answers

The _____________ tissue within the muscle limits the range of extensibility and keeps it within the contractile range of muscle cells.

connective Signup and view all the answers

Define elasticity.

The ability of muscular tissue to return to its original length and shape after contraction or extension. Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Muscular Tissue Overview

Muscular tissue is classified into three types: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth.
Each type has unique structural differences and functional properties.

Structural Differences among Muscular Tissues

Skeletal Muscle: Striated, voluntary, primarily attached to bones.
Cardiac Muscle: Striated, involuntary, forms the heart wall.
Smooth Muscle: Nonstriated, involuntary, located in internal organs.

Functions of Muscular Tissue

Produces movements, stabilizes body positions, stores and moves substances, and generates heat.

Skeletal Muscle Functions

Facilitates body movements through contractions.
Maintains body positions by stabilizing joints and postural muscles.
Generates heat via thermogenesis during contraction.

Cardiac Muscle Functions

Pumps blood through the body via cardiac contractions.

Smooth Muscle Functions

Storage: Sustained contractions in sphincters prevent outflow of organ contents (e.g., stomach, urinary bladder).
Movement: Regulates blood flow by adjusting vessel diameter, moves food in the GI tract, pushes gametes in reproductive systems, and propels urine in urinary systems.

Special Properties of Muscular Tissue

Electrical Excitability: Responds to stimuli by generating action potentials.
Contractility: Contracts forcefully upon stimulation by an action potential.
Extensibility: Stretches within limits without damage; greatest in smooth muscle.
Elasticity: Returns to original length and shape after contraction or extension.

Mechanism of Skeletal Muscle Contraction

Generates tension and pulls on attachment points when contracting.

Connective Tissue Role

Connective tissue within muscle limits extensibility, maintaining the range of muscle cell contractility.

Types of Stimuli for Action Potential

Autorhythmic Electrical Stimuli: Initiated within the muscle tissue, particularly in the heart's pacemaker.
Chemical Stimuli: Triggered by neurotransmitters, hormones, or pH changes.

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