Question

Which of the following experiences maximum stretching?

• A. Skeletal muscle
• B. Smooth Muscle
• C. Cardiac muscle
• D. All of these

Answer 1

The correct option is B Smooth Muscle

Smooth muscles are involuntary muscles. They are controlled by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. They may contract in response to the hormones. Oxytocin contracts the smooth muscles of the uterus. Progesterone doesn’t allow contraction of muscles and therefore helps in maintaining pregnancy. Scrotum muscles relax in high temperature and contract in low temperature. These are spindle shaped and uninucleate. These are unstriated. They taper at both ends and experience maximum stretching. They show slow contractions and relaxations as compared to skeletal muscles. Cell junctions hold cells together. Bundled together in connective sheath.

Skeletal muscles are attached to the bones of the skeleton. They help in the movement of the body parts. Tendons join muscle to bones. Ligaments join bone to bone. Upper part of pharynx, tongue, diaphragm and external anal sphincter contain skeletal muscles which are not attached to bones. They are striated and multinucleated. Muscle fibres are bundled together in a parallel fashion. Sheath of tough connective tissue (endomysium) encloses several bundles of muscle fibres. Perimysium covers muscle fasculi. Epimysium covers the muscle.


Cardiac muscles are contractile tissues found only in the heart. Endocardium of heart is composed of epithelial cells. Cardiac tissues are present in the myocardium (middle muscular layer of heart wall). These are striated but involuntary and branched. Some cardiac muscles get modified and make the sinoatrial node (pacemaker) of the heart.