Difference between voluntary and involuntary muscles is
A. Voluntary muscle can be moved by conscious will, involuntary muscles function on their own.
B. Voluntary muscles-muscles of limbs or skeletal muscles, involuntary muscles-cardiac muscles and smooth muscles.
C. Both A and B.
D. None of the above.
Hint: The action of involuntary muscles is not consciously controlled by the brain but is triggered by the autonomic nervous system. These muscles include smooth and cardiac muscles.
Complete answer:
The muscular system consists of specialized cells called muscle fibers that facilitate body movement, muscle contraction, maintenance of posture, and more. These fibers are connected to bones, blood vessels, and various internal organs and primarily consist of skeletal muscles, tissues, tendons, and nerves.
The distinction between voluntary and involuntary muscles is as follows:
|
Voluntary muscles |
Involuntary muscles |
| Voluntary muscles function based on conscious control or intent. | Involuntary muscles operate under the regulation of the body’s autonomic nervous system. |
| Voluntary muscles are multinucleated, with nuclei located toward the cell’s periphery. | Involuntary muscles are uninucleated, with nuclei positioned centrally within the cells. |
| These muscles are involved in movement and locomotion of body parts. | These muscles support organs that perform involuntary movements, such as those in the urogenital, digestive, respiratory tracts, gland ducts, blood vessels, and ciliary muscles. |
| Voluntary muscles have a high energy demand. | Involuntary muscles require lower amounts of energy. |
| The muscles are long, unbranched, and have a cylindrical shape. | These muscles are smaller and have a spindle-like shape. |
| They produce fast and strong contractions. | They produce slow, rhythmic contractions. |
| Voluntary muscles include skeletal muscles. | Involuntary muscles include smooth and cardiac muscles. |
So, the correct answer is ‘Both A and B’.
Note: In cardiac muscles, self-activating muscle fibers form “pacemakers” that trigger spontaneous nerve impulses for automatic rhythmic contractions. These pacemakers can be affected by the autonomic nervous system and hormones. The ear contains the body’s smallest muscles, along with the tiniest bones. These muscles link the eardrum to the inner ear. The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body, located in the hips, aiding in the maintenance of an upright posture.
