Question

Compare the different types of skeletal muscles with respect to nucleus, cell shape, arrangement, and activity.

Answer 1

Skeletal muscles:

Striated muscles:

1. These muscles are also called voluntary muscles because they can be controlled by one's will.
2. They have alternate light or dark bands known as striations.
3. The cells are long and cylindrical in shape and are arranged in bundles.

Unstriated muscles:

1. These muscles are also called involuntary muscles because they cannot be controlled by one's will.
2. They do not have alternate light or dark bands or striations.
3. The cells are elongated and spindle-shaped and are arranged in the form of sheets.

Cardiac muscles:

1. These muscles are involuntary and cannot be controlled by one's will.
2. They have striations and are found in the walls of the heart.
3. The cells are cylindrical shaped and are arranged in a network.

Characteristics	Striated	Unstriated	Cardiac
Nucleus	1.Multinucleated and present at the periphery	1. Uninucleated and centrally located	1. Uninucleated and centrally located
Cell shape	2. Long and cylindrical shaped	2. Elongated and spindle-shaped	2. cylindrical shaped
Arrangement	3. Arranged in bundles	3. Arranged in the form of sheets	3. Arranged in the form of a network
Activity	4. Fast and powerful contractions	4. Slow but prolonged contractions	4. Powerful and rhythmic contractions