There are three basic types of muscle tissue in the body: the skeletal muscle, which controls normal movement and posture; smooth muscle, which controls autonomic or unconscious activities such as digestion; and cardiac muscle, which is in the heart. These types of muscles differ in function and in their physiological makeup and control.
Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal muscle is the type of muscle that most people would think of if asked about muscles. This is the muscle that controls body posture and movement, and makes up most of the muscle mass of our bodies.
Skeletal muscle is further categorized into two types: slow- and fast-twitch muscle. Slow-twitch muscle (also called Type 1) is used by the body to perform aerobic exercise and more sustained activity. Fast-twitch or Type 2 muscle responds faster but is less efficient; this type of muscle is used more in anaerobic activities. Type 2 muscle is further divided into Type 2 a, b and d, based other characteristics such as response and oxygen usage.
Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle is involuntary and located in tissues under autonomic control. Smooth muscle is capable of sustained contractions without tiring and is the cause of abdominal cramps and asthmatic attacks. It's located in the digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive and vascular systems.
Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac muscle is a specialized muscle type found only in the heart. It has a rapid contraction, similar to skeletal muscle, and can sustain activity like smooth muscle.
References
- "Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice", Susan Standring (Editor), 2008
- "Basic Pathology"; Vinay Kumar, Ramzi Contran and Stanley Robins.Sixth Ed.,1997
