Cardiac Muscle and Skeletal Muscle

Muscles are one of the most important characteristics of a living being. It constitutes almost forty percent of the total weight of the body. It allows a living creature to move, chew, speak, and get indulged in other necessary activities of living. These muscles help in managing the heartbeat, digestion, vision, breathing, and other important functions of the body. 

The muscular system in the body contains more than 600 muscles, which works together to ensure the proper and full functioning of the living body. One of the principal functions of the Muscular system is Mobility. It is seen that the maximum of the movement is under the consciousness of the living creature. However, some movements are reflexive in nature. The muscular system also plays a significant role in our Posture. This system in the body helps in keeping the body in a correct, definite, and aligned position. The muscular system also helps in protecting the internal organs of the body. The muscles in the body help in regulating the temperature of the body. It is found that the fluctuations in the temperature of the body are due to the contraction of muscles in the body. 

There are three types of muscles in a body- Cardiac, Smooth, and Skeletal Muscles. Smooth Muscles can be traced inside the blood vessels and other organs of the body. These muscles are also known as the Visceral Muscles. Often, it is said that these types of muscles are the weakest type of muscles in the living body. They act involuntarily and they cannot consciously be regulated by the living creatures. 

Let us discuss the Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles, in brief- along with the distinction between them. 

Cardiac Muscles

Cardiac Muscles are one of the three types of Muscles found in a living body. These muscles are only found in the heart. In the heart, these muscles play coordinated contractions which help the heart in pumping blood via the circulatory system of the body. These muscles include involuntary movements- for keeping the heart pumping blood. The pacemaker cells help the Cardiac Muscles in maintaining their functioning and the heart keeps beating throughout. These muscle tissues get their flexibility and strength from the Cardiac muscle fibres. These cells have one nucleus. These cells also consist of the Mitochondria.  

To make sure the proper and healthy functioning of the Cardiac Muscles, one must exercise and keep themselves active. 

Skeletal Muscles

Skeletal Muscles are one of the three types of Muscles found in a living body. These muscles are attached to the bones throughout the body. These muscles help in the functioning of the body, as a whole. These muscles are attached to the bones with the help of Tendons. Tendons are collagen fibres. Skeletal muscles include a bunch of muscle fibres- commonly known as the Fascicule. Each of these muscle fibres is lined by a plasma membrane. Extensibility, Excitability, Contractibility, and Elasticity are a few of the properties of the Skeletal Muscles. The various types of movements are managed by these types of muscles. Skeletal Muscles are of two types- Red and White. Red Muscles are tinier in diameter and the number of mitochondria in these muscles are huge. On the other hand, white muscles are huge in diameter and have a small amount of myoglobin in them. 

Difference

Conclusion

Muscles are an important part of the human body. Muscles help in managing the heartbeat, digestion, vision, breathing, and other important functions of the body. There are three types of muscles in a body- Cardiac muscles, smooth muscles and skeletal muscles. Smooth muscles can be traced inside the blood vessels and other organs of the body. Cardiac muscles are found only in the heart. In the heart, these muscles play coordinated contractions which help the heart in pumping blood via the circulatory system of the body. Skeletal muscles are attached to the bones throughout the body. These muscles help in the functioning of the body, as a whole.