The Structure and Function of the Three Types of Muscle Tissue
The complexity of the muscular system is conditional upon the presence of various kinds of muscle tissue. They include skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles which differ in their structure and function as well as in the way they establish a connection with the central nervous system. Therefore, the current paper aims to consider the specified tissues regarding their gross anatomy and histology and describe similarities between skeletal muscle types.
Skeletal Muscle
The first type of muscle tissue is skeletal muscle attached to the bone. Hence, its primary function is to control different body movements (“Muscle tissue,” n.d.). It consists of a variety of cells of either an elongated or a tubular form (“Histology of muscle,” n.d.). They comprise muscle fibers, which have nuclei located on their periphery and establish the connection with the central nervous system (“Muscle tissue,” n.d.). Hence, skeletal muscles are responsible for one’s posture and the transmittance of impulses to the brain.
Smooth Muscle
The second type is smooth muscle, and it differs from skeletal muscles in both form and function. Its shape is described as a spindle-shaped tissue consisting of cells with a single nucleus located in their center (“Muscle tissue,” n.d.). Their task is related to maintaining the processes of hollow organs in the human body alongside creating the connection to other systems (“Histology of muscle,” n.d.). This muscle tissue is also located in the abdominal cavity (“Histology of muscle,” n.d.) In this way, it is diametrically opposed to the first type in both anatomy and functions.
Cardiac Muscle
The third type is cardiac muscle, and it is responsible for the proper functioning of the heart. It is found in the walls of organs and has one nucleus in the center (“Muscle tissue,” n.d.). However, its main difference from the first two types is in its shape, which is rectangular, and the presence of intercalated discs (“Histology of muscle,” n.d.). Hence, cardiac muscle is the only tissue directly connected to the heart and structurally resembling muscles in other hollow organs.
To sum up, the specified types of muscle tissue have varying functions and shapes distinguishing them. They perform essential tasks for proper body functioning, which include the transmittance of impulses to the central nervous systems and ensuring the work of hollow organs, such as the stomach, intestines, or heart. Thus, the consideration of the mentioned characteristics allows classifying them according to their purpose, structure, and location.
Structural Similarities Between Skeletal Muscles
All skeletal muscles are similar in their structure and function. Therefore, the first characteristic allowing us to compare them is the way they are connected to the skeleton. Regardless of the type of task they perform, these muscles are attached to the ends of the bones with the help of tendons (Dave & Varacallo, 2018). These structural parts play a significant role in the overall process since they are made of a tough tissue that is strong enough to hold the connection (Dave & Varacallo, 2018). In this way, the skeletal muscles are stretching when being fixed by tendons and, thereby, present the power triggering the movements of specific body parts.
Another similarity between all the muscles involved in the process is related to their histology. Thus, all of them have cylindrical form, consist of numerous nuclei, and are striated (“Histology of muscle,” n.d.). Moreover, these structural similarities are complemented by an essential factor, which distinguishes them from other types of muscle tissue. They are the only muscles in the human body that can be controlled consciously or voluntarily (“Muscle tissue,” n.d.). In this way, it can be concluded that the principal similarities of skeletal muscles in terms of structural specificities are connected with their location, shape, and method of functioning.
References
Dave, H. D., & Varacallo, M. (2018). Anatomy, skeletal muscle. StatPearls. Web.
Histology of muscle. (n.d.). East Tennessee State University. 2020, Web.
Muscle tissue. (n.d.). National Cancer Institute SEER Training Modules. 2020, Web.