The human body is composed of three types of muscles viz cardiac muscles, smooth muscles, and skeletal muscles. Cardiac muscles are found in the heart which is self-stimulating, has an intermediate speed of contraction and energy requirement, and is responsible for performing muscular involuntary movements. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones all over the body which does not self-stimulate, has a high speed of contraction and energy requirement, and is responsible for performing voluntary muscular movements. Smooth muscles are found on the cell walls of internal organs which is self-stimulating, has a low speed of contraction and energy requirement, and is responsible for performing involuntary muscular movements. The important differences between cardiac muscles and skeletal muscles have been discussed below.
Difference Between Cardiac Muscle And Skeletal Muscle
| Properties | Cardiac Muscle | Skeletal Muscle |
| Found | In heart only | Attached to bones of the entire body |
| Length | Shorter | Longer |
| Controlled by | Autonomic nervous system | Somatic nervous system |
| Shape | Semi-spindle | Cylindrical |
| Function | Movement of the body | Pumping blood away from the heart |
| Gap junctions | Present | Absent |
| Cell type | Uninucleated | Multinucleated |
| Endomysium | Dense | Less Dense |
| Speed of contraction | Less | Fast |
| Contracts | Without neural stimulation | With neural stimulation |
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