Structures, Locations, and Functions of the Three Types of Muscular Tissue

Cardiac Muscle

- Cardiac muscle is found in the heart. - Cardiac muscle is striated like skeletal muscle, but differs in that the plasma membrane of the cardiac muscle causes the muscle to beat even when away from the heart. - The action potentials of cardiac and skeletal muscles also differ.

Skeletal Muscle

- Skeletal muscle is voluntary. - These muscles are attached to bones and are responsible for their movement. - Skeletal muscle consists of long fibers and is striated due to the repeating patterns of the myofilaments (made of the protein actin and myosin) that make up the fibers.

Smooth Muscle

- Smooth muscle is involuntary. - It is found in organs and enables functions such as digestion and respiration. - Unlike skeletal and cardiac muscle, smooth muscle is not striated. - Smooth muscle has less myosin and does not generate as much tension as skeletal muscle.

Main Function of the Muscular System

- The main function of the muscular system is movement. - There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth.