The human body contains three types of muscle: cardiac, skeletal, and smooth. Each type of muscle has a specific function in the body. Cardiac muscle is only found in the heart and is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. Skeletal muscle is found in all of the muscles that we can control voluntarily, such as our biceps and quadriceps.
Smooth muscle lines most of the internal organs, such as our stomach and intestines, and controls involuntary functions such as digestion. The difference between cardiac and skeletal muscle lies in their origin and function. Cardiac muscle is derived from embryonic mesoderm, while skeletal muscle arises from somites. The cardiac muscle is also striated (has bands), while the skeletal muscle is not.
What is Cardiac Muscle?
Cardiac muscle is a type of involuntary muscle tissue that is found in the walls of the heart. Cardiac muscle contracts to pump blood through the heart and body. Cardiac muscle is made up of elongated, cylindrical cells that are joined together by intercalated disks. Cardiac muscle cells contain numerous mitochondria, which provide energy for contraction. Cardiac muscle is innervated by the autonomic nervous system and is regulated by hormones. Cardiac muscle has a higher rate of metabolism than other types of muscle tissue and is capable of sustained contractions. Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart and is essential for proper heart function.
What is a Skeletal Muscle?
- Skeletal muscle is a type of striated muscle tissue that is attached to bones. Skeletal muscles produce movements of the skeleton, such as chewing and walking. Skeletal muscle is made up of individual cells, called muscle fibers. Each muscle fiber is surrounded by a connective tissue called the endomysium. Muscle fibers are further grouped together into bundles, called fascicles. Each fascicle is surrounded by a connective tissue called the perimysium.
- Finally, all of the fascicles are bundled together by a connective tissue called the epimysium. Skeletal muscle cells are long and cylindrical in shape. They have multiple nuclei located near the center of the cell. Skeletal muscle cells also contain myofibrils, which are thin filaments made up of protein molecules.
- Myofibrils are arranged into sarcomeres, which are the basic units of muscle contraction (1). Skeletal muscles are classified based on their size, shape, and location in the body.
Difference between Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle
- Cardiac and skeletal muscle are two of the three main types of muscle tissue in the human body. Cardiac muscle is found in the heart, while the skeletal muscle is found in the limbs and trunk. Both types of muscle are made up of cells called myocytes, which contract to produce movement. However, there are several key differences between cardiac and skeletal muscle.
- Cardiac muscle is involuntary, meaning that it contracts automatically in response to changes in the body’s need for oxygenated blood. Skeletal muscle, on the other hand, is voluntary, meaning that it contracts only when an individual voluntarily initiates movement. Cardiac muscle is also more resistant to fatigue than skeletal muscle, meaning that it can continue to contract for long periods of time without tiring.
- Finally, cardiac muscle is arranged in a branching pattern, while the skeletal muscle is arranged in parallel bundles. These anatomical differences reflect the different functions of cardiac and skeletal muscle: cardiac muscle pumps blood through the body continuously, while skeletal muscle produces movement only when necessary.
Conclusion
The main difference between cardiac and skeletal muscle is that cardiac muscle is striated, meaning it has stripes on it, while skeletal muscle does not. Cardiac muscle also contracts more quickly than skeletal muscle. Finally, cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscle cells. Other than those key distinctions, the two types of muscles are very similar in their makeup and function.
