How does cardiac muscle contraction differ fundamentally from skeletal muscle contraction?
Understand the Problem
The question asks about the fundamental differences between cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction. It requires understanding the distinct properties and control mechanisms of these two muscle types.
Answer
Cardiac muscle relies on extracellular calcium, contracts slower, and contracts spontaneously, whereas skeletal muscle relies on intracellular calcium and requires external stimulation.
Cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction differ in several fundamental aspects. Cardiac muscle relies on extracellular calcium for contraction, while skeletal muscle uses intracellular calcium. Cardiac muscle contraction is slower and controlled by a pacemaker region. Cardiac muscle also contracts spontaneously, unlike skeletal muscle.
Answer for screen readers
Cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction differ in several fundamental aspects. Cardiac muscle relies on extracellular calcium for contraction, while skeletal muscle uses intracellular calcium. Cardiac muscle contraction is slower and controlled by a pacemaker region. Cardiac muscle also contracts spontaneously, unlike skeletal muscle.
More Information
Cardiac muscle contains more mitochondria than skeletal muscle to function aerobically. Cardiac muscle is autorhythmic (contracts spontaneously).
Tips
A common mistake is thinking the muscles are the same besides location within the human body, but they are very different at a cellular level.
Sources
- Cardiac vs. skeletal muscle contraction - Biology Stack Exchange - biology.stackexchange.com
- The web page with info on - Example Source - khanacademy.org
- Why is cardiac muscle so different from skeletal muscle? How did a ... - quora.com
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