Red and White Muscle

The primary job of muscles is  to provide strength and support to the body, as well as to cause movement. Skeletal muscles, Cardiac muscles, and Smooth muscles are the three major types of muscles. Skeletal muscles are further subdivided into red and white muscle groups. Dark bands or fibres are prevalent in red muscles, which contain a considerable amount of myoglobin and mitochondria, whereas white fibres are dominant in white muscles, which contain a limited amount of myoglobin and mitochondria. Another significant distinction between red and white muscles is that red muscles are slow twitch, whereas white muscles are quick twitch.

Red muscles 

Red muscles are skeletal muscles with a high concentration of mitochondria, myoglobin, and blood supply. Because of their slow twitching and low fatigue rate, these muscles are also known as type I or slow twitch muscles. Because of the rich contents in these muscles, they can function for a long time without showing signs of exhaustion. Furthermore, red muscles have thin muscular fibres with dark filaments that are prominently visible, giving them the red colour appearance. Red muscles have a lot of mitochondria, yet they still contract slowly and have a lot of power, allowing them to do more work. Because red muscles use aerobic metabolism, there is no lactic acid buildup with continuous labour. These muscles include tiny motor units. Back muscles (ex-tensors) or erector spine muscles, for example, are examples of red muscles.

White muscles

White muscles are skeletal muscles that have a low concentration of mitochondria, myoglobin, and blood supply. Because of their rapid twitching and high rate of fatigue, these muscles are also known as type II or fast twitch muscles. Due to their limited composition, these muscles are best suited for short-term labour and display fast or early tiredness. Furthermore, white muscles have large muscular fibres, light or white fibres, and are prominently visible, giving them the white colour appearance. White muscles contain a lesser number of mitochondria, but they nonetheless contract quickly and have more power, allowing them to do less work and fatigue sooner. Because white muscles undergo anaerobic metabolism, lactic acid builds up during prolonged work. These muscles have a lot of motor units. The eye muscle, for example, is a common example of white muscle.

Difference between red muscles and white muscles 

• Red muscles have a high concentration of mitochondria, myoglobin, and blood supply, while white muscles have a low concentration of mitochondria, myoglobin, and blood supply.
• Red muscles twitch slowly and have a low rate of fatigue, they are referred to as type I or slow twitch muscles, whereas white muscles are referred to as type II or fast twitching muscles because they twitch quickly and have a high rate of fatigue.
• White muscle, on the other hand, has thick muscle fibres, which have light or white fibres inside them and are dominantly seen, giving it a white colour appearance. Red muscle has thin muscle fibres, which have dark fibres in them and are dominantly seen, giving it a red colour appearance.
• White muscle can conduct short-term work while red muscle can undertake long-term activity.
• White muscle has a fast contraction and higher power than red muscle, which has a slow contract and low power.
• Red muscles are less fatigued and have a lower lactic acid buildup, whereas white muscles are more fatigued and have a higher lactic acid buildup.

Conclusion 

A human body has around 600 muscles, which are divided into three categories: skeletal Muscles, cardiac Muscles, and smooth Muscles. Muscle (musculo) and the skeletal structure to which these Muscles are attached are the two primary components of the musculoskeletal system of the body. Red Muscles and White Muscles are the two types of skeletal muscles.