4/6/24, 10:28 AM 15.

3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts

15.3: TYPES OF MUSCLE TISSUE

 WORK THOSE EYE MUSCLES!

Page ID
Turn your eyes—a tiny movement,
16811 considering the conspicuously
large and strong external eye
muscles that control eyeball
movements. These muscles have
been called the strongest muscles
in the human body relative to the
work they do. However, the Figure 15.3.2 : Muscle type 1) Skeletal
external eye muscles actually do a muscle cells are long tubular cells
surprising amount of work. Eye with striations (3) and multiple nuclei
(4). The nuclei are embedded in the
movements occur almost cell membrane (5) to be just inside the
constantly during waking hours, cell. This type of tissue occurs in the
especially when we are scanning muscles that are attached to the
skeleton. Skeletal muscles function
faces or reading. Eye muscles are
for the voluntary movements of the
also exercised nightly during the body. Muscle type 2) Smooth muscle
phase of sleep called rapid eye cells are spindle-shaped (6), and each
movement sleep. External eye cell has a single nucleus (7). Unlike
skeletal muscle, there are no
muscles can move the eyes striations. The smooth muscle acts
because they are made mainly of involuntarily and functions in the
muscle tissue. movement of substances in the
lumens. They are primarily found in
blood vessel walls and walls along
the digestive tract. Muscle type 3)
Cardiac muscle cells branch off from
each other, rather than remaining,
like the cells in the skeletal and
smooth muscle tissues. Because of
this, there are junctions between
Figure 15.3.1 : Eyes adjacent cells (9). The cells have
striations (8), and each cell has a
WHAT IS MUSCLE TISSUE?
single nucleus (10). This type of tissue
occurs in the heart wall, and its
primary function is for pumping
blood. This is an involuntary action.
Muscle tissue is a soft tissue that
makes up most of the tissues in the
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle… 1/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM 15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts

muscles of the human muscular system. Table 15.3.1 : Skeletal muscles. Some muscles
Other tissues in muscles are connective are visible from both anterior and posterior
views.
tissues, such as tendons that attach skeletal
Muscles visible in Figure Muscles visible in
muscles to bones and sheaths of connective 15.3.3 Figure 15.3.4
tissues that cover or line muscle tissues. rotator cuff (multiple
Only muscle tissue per se, however, has muscles are part of this levator scapulae
cells with the ability to contract. group)

There are three major types of muscle biceps brachii rhomboids

tissues in the human body: skeletal, brachialis rotator cuff

smooth, and cardiac muscle tissues. Figure pronator teres triceps brachii
15.3.2 shows how the three types of brachioradialis gluteus maximus
muscle tissues appear under a microscope. adductor muscles tibialis posterior
When you read about each type below, tibialis anterior peroneus longus
you will learn why the three types appear deltoid peroneus brevis
as they do. pectoralis major trapezius
SKELETAL MUSCLE TISSUE rectus abdominis deltoid

Skeletal muscle is muscle tissue attached abdominal external oblique brachioradialis

to bones by tendons, which are bundles of iliopsoas latissimus dorsi

collagen fibers. Whether you are moving quadriceps femoris biceps femoris
your eyes or running a marathon, you are peroneus longus semitendinosus
using skeletal muscles. Contractions of peroneus bravis semimembranousus
skeletal muscles are voluntary or under the gastrocnemius
conscious control of the central nervous soleus
system via the somatic nervous system.
Skeletal muscle tissue is the most common
type of muscle tissue in the human body.
By weight, an average adult male is about
42 percent skeletal muscles, and the
average adult female is about 36 percent
skeletal muscles. Some of the major
skeletal muscles in the human body are
labeled in Figures 15.3.3 and Figure 15.3.4
and listed in Table 15.3.1.

Figure 15.3.3 : This figure shows major

skeletal muscles in the front (anterior) of
the body.
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle… 2/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM 15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts

Figure 15.3.5 : Triceps and biceps muscles

in the upper arm are opposing muscles
that move the arm at the elbow in opposite
directions.
SKELETAL MUSCLE STRUCTURE

Each skeletal muscle consists of hundreds

Figure 15.3.4 : This figure shows major — or even thousands — of skeletal muscle
skeletal muscles in the back (posterior) of fibers, which are long, string-like cells. As
the body. shown in Figure 15.3.6, skeletal muscle
SKELETAL MUSCLE PAIRS fibers are individually wrapped in
To move bones in opposite directions, connective tissue called endomysium. The
skeletal muscles often consist of muscle skeletal muscle fibers are bundled together
pairs that work in opposition to one in units called muscle fascicles,
another. For example, when the biceps surrounded by sheaths of connective tissue
muscle (on the front of the upper arm) called perimysium. Each fascicle contains
contracts, it can cause the elbow joint to between ten and 100 (or even more!)
flex or bend the arm, as shown in Figure skeletal muscle fibers. Fascicles, in turn, are
15.3.5. When the triceps muscle (on the bundled together to form individual
back of the upper arm) contracts, it can skeletal muscles, which are wrapped in
cause the elbow to extend or straighten the connective tissue called epimysium. The
arm. The biceps and triceps muscles are connective tissues in skeletal muscles have
examples of a muscle pair where the a variety of functions. They support and
muscles work in opposition to each other. protect muscle fibers, allowing them to
withstand contraction forces by
distributing the forces applied to the
muscle. They also provide pathways for
nerves and blood vessels to reach the
muscles. Also, the epimysium anchors the
muscles to tendons.
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle… 3/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM 15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts

components of a skeletal muscle fiber

include multiple nuclei and mitochondria.

Figure 15.3.6 : Each skeletal muscle has a

structure of bundles within bundles.
Bundles of muscle fibers make up a muscle
fascicle, and fascicles' bundles make up a
skeletal muscle. At each level of bundling,
a connective tissue membrane surrounds
the bundle. The muscle cells, fascicle, and
the whole muscle are surrounded by
Endomysium, perimysium, and Figure 15.3.7 : Bundles of protein filaments
epimysium, respectively. All connective form a myofibril, and bundles of
tissues merge together to make a tendon myofibrils make up a single muscle fiber. I
that attaches the muscle to bones. and A bands refer to the positioning of
myosin and actin fibers in a myofibril.
The same bundles-within-bundles Sarcoplasmic reticulum is a specialized
structure is replicated within each muscle type of endoplasmic reticulum that forms a
fiber. As shown in Figure 15.3.7, a muscle network around each myofibril. It serves as
a reservoir for calcium ions, which are
fiber consists of a bundle of myofibrils, needed for muscle contractions. H zones
which are themselves bundles of protein and Z discs are also involved in muscle
filaments. These protein filaments consist contractions, which you can read about in
the concept of Muscle Contraction.
of thin filaments of the protein actin,
SLOW- AND FAST-TWITCH SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS
anchored to structures called Z discs —
Skeletal muscle fibers can be divided into
and thick filaments of the protein myosin.
two types, called slow-twitch (or type I)
The filaments are arranged together within
muscle fibers and fast-twitch (or type II)
a myofibril in repeating units called
muscle fibers.
sarcomeres, which run from one Z disc to
the next. The sarcomere is the basic Slow-twitch muscle fibers are dense
functional unit of skeletal (and cardiac) with capillaries and rich in
muscles. It contracts as actin and myosin mitochondria and myoglobin, a protein
filaments slide over one another. Skeletal that stores oxygen until needed for
muscle tissue is said to be striated because muscle activity. Relative to fast-twitch
it appears striped. It has this appearance fibers, slow-twitch fibers can carry more
because of the regular, alternating A (dark) oxygen and sustain aerobic (oxygen-
and I (light) bands of filaments arranged in using) activity. Slow-twitch fibers can
sarcomeres inside the muscle fibers. Other contract for long periods of time, but
not with very much force. They are
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle… 4/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM
relied upon primarily in endurance
events, such as distance running or
cycling.
Fast-twitch muscle fibers contain fewer
capillaries and mitochondria and less
myoglobin. This type of muscle fiber
can contract rapidly and powerfully,
but it fatigues very quickly. Fast-twitch
fibers can sustain only short, anaerobic
(non-oxygen-using) bursts of activity.
Relative to slow-twitch fibers, fast-
twitch fibers contribute more to muscle
strength and have a greater potential
for increasing mass. They are relied
upon primarily in short, strenuous
events, such as sprinting or weight
lifting.
Proportions of fiber types vary
considerably from muscle to muscle and
from person to person. Individuals may be
genetically predisposed to have a larger
percentage of one type of muscle fiber than
the other. Generally, an individual who
has more slow-twitch fibers is better suited
for activities requiring endurance. In
contrast, an individual who has more fast-
twitch fibers is better suited for activities
requiring short bursts of power.
SMOOTH MUSCLE
Smooth muscle is muscle tissue in the
walls of internal organs and other internal
structures such as blood vessels. When
smooth muscles contract, they help the
organs and vessels carry out their
functions. When smooth muscles in the
stomach wall contract, they squeeze the
food inside the stomach, helping to mix
and churn the food and break it into
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle…
15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts
smaller pieces. This is an important part of
digestion. Contractions of smooth muscles
are involuntary, so they are not under
conscious control. Instead, they are
controlled by the autonomic nervous
system, hormones, neurotransmitters, and
other physiological factors.
STRUCTURE OF SMOOTH MUSCLE
Figure 15.3.8 : The smooth muscle cell is
composed of actin and myosin filaments,
but they are not arranged in the sarcomere.
The arrangement of these filaments is
alternate and staggered.
The cells that make up smooth muscle are
generally called myocytes. Unlike the
muscle fibers of striated muscle tissue, the
myocytes of smooth muscle tissue do not
have their filaments arranged in
sarcomeres. Therefore, smooth tissue is not
striated. However, the myocytes of smooth
muscle contain myofibrils, which contain
bundles of myosin and actin filaments. The
filaments cause contractions when they
slide over each other, as shown in Figure
15.3.8.
FUNCTIONS OF SMOOTH MUSCLE
5/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM 15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts

volume of air that can pass through

them
Walls of organs of the male and female
reproductive tracts; in the uterus, for
example, pushing a baby out of the
uterus and into the birth canal
Walls of the urinary system structures,
including the urinary bladder, allow the
bladder to expand so it can hold more
Figure 15.3.9 : The muscular uterine wall urine and then contract as urine is
stretches to a great extent to accommodate released.
a growing fetus, yet it can still contract Walls of blood vessels, controlling the
with great force during the labor that diameter of the vessels and thereby
precedes childbirth. At that time, it can
exert up to 100 pounds of force. affecting blood flow and blood pressure
Unlike striated muscle, smooth muscle can Walls of lymphatic vessels, squeezing
sustain very long-term contractions. the fluid called lymph through the
Smooth muscle can also stretch and still vessels.
maintain its contractile function, which Iris of the eyes, controlling the size of
striated muscle cannot. An extracellular the pupils and thereby the amount of
matrix secreted by myocytes enhances the light entering the eyes
elasticity of smooth muscle. The matrix Arrector pili in the skin, raising hairs in
consists of elastin, collagen, and other hair follicles in the dermis.
stretchy fibers. The ability to stretch and CARDIAC MUSCLE
still contract is an important attribute of
smooth muscle in organs such as the
stomach and uterus (Figure 15.3.9), both of
which must stretch considerably as they
perform their normal functions.
The following list indicates where many
smooth muscles are found, along with
some of their specific functions.
Walls of the gastrointestinal tract (such
as the esophagus, stomach, and
intestines), moving food through the
tract by peristalsis.
Walls of air passages of the respiratory
tract (such as the bronchi), controlling
the diameter of the passages and the
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle… 6/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM
Figure 15.3.10: The thick wall of the heart
consists mainly of cardiac muscle tissue
called myocardium. The thin epithelial
tissue endocardium covers the chambers of
the heart and the epicardium covers the
myocardium. The heart is located in the
pericardial cavity of the chest. The
covering of the pericardial cavity is
composed of fibrous and serous layers.
Cardiac muscle is found only in the wall of
the heart. It is also called myocardium. As
shown in Figure 15.3.10, the myocardium
is enclosed within connective tissues,
including the endocardium on the inside of
the heart and pericardium on the outside
of the heart. When cardiac muscle
contracts, the heart beats and pumps
blood. Contractions of cardiac muscle are
involuntary, like those of smooth muscles.
They are controlled by electrical impulses
from specialized cardiac muscle cells in the
heart muscle area called the sinoatrial
node.
Like skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is
striated because its filaments are arranged
in sarcomeres inside the muscle fibers.
However, in cardiac muscle, the myofibrils
are branched at irregular angles rather
than arranged in parallel rows (as they are
in skeletal muscle). This explains why
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle…
15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts
cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues look
different from one another.
The cells of cardiac muscle tissue are
arranged in interconnected networks. This
arrangement allows rapid transmission of
electrical impulses, which stimulate
virtually simultaneous contractions of the
cells. This enables the cells to coordinate
contractions of the heart muscle.
The heart is the muscle that performs the
greatest amount of physical work in a
lifetime. Although the heart's power
output is much less than the maximum
power output of some other muscles in the
human body, the heart does its work
continuously over an entire lifetime
without rest. The cardiac muscle contains
many mitochondria, which produce ATP
for energy and help the heart resist fatigue.
 FEATURE: HUMAN BODY IN THE NEWS
The human heart develops in a
sequence of events that are controlled
by communication among different
types of cells, including cells that will
become myocardium (the cardiac
muscle that forms the wall of the heart)
and cells that will become endocardium
(the connective tissue that covers the
inside surface of the myocardium). If
communication among the cells is
abnormal, it can lead to various heart
defects, such as cardiac hypertrophy or
abnormal enlargement of the heart
muscle. Cardiac hypertrophy causes the
heart to thicken and weaken over time,
so it is less able to pump blood.
Eventually, heart failure may develop,
7/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM
causing fluid to build up in the lungs
and extremities.
Abnormal cell communication is the
mechanism by which a mutation called
PTPN11 leads to cardiac hypertrophy in
disorder referred to as NSML (Noonan
Syndrome with Multiple Lentigines).
New research by scientists at Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center in Boston has
determined which type of cell
abnormalities occur that lead to NSML.
In the research, the scientists engineered
mouse models to express the PTPN11
mutation as they developed. The
researchers manipulated the mouse
models so that the mutation was
expressed only in cells that would
develop into the myocardium in some
of the mice. In contrast, in other mice,
the mutation was expressed only in cells
that would develop into endocardium.
Unexpectedly, the heart's hypertrophy
occurred only in the mice that expressed
the mutation in endocardial cells, not in
myocardial cells, which had long been
assumed to be the cells affected. The
results of the research suggest potential
targets for the treatment of NSML. They
may also help scientists understand the
causes of other cardiac disorders that
are much more common than NSML.
REVIEW
1. What is muscle tissue?
2. Where is the skeletal muscle found, and
what is its general function?
3. Why do many skeletal muscles work in
pairs?
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle…
15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts
4. Describe the structure of a skeletal
muscle.
5. Relate muscle fiber structure to the
functional units of muscles.
6. Why is skeletal muscle tissue striated?
7. Compare and contrast slow-twitch and
fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibers.
8. Where is the smooth muscle found?
What controls the contraction of smooth
muscle?
9. Compare and contrast smooth muscle
and striated muscle (such as skeletal
muscle).
10. Where is the cardiac muscle found?
What controls its contractions?
11. Both cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues
are striated, but they look different from
one another. Why?
12. The heart muscle is smaller and less
powerful than some other muscles in the
body. Why is the heart the muscle that
performs the greatest amount of physical
work in a lifetime? How does the heart
resist fatigue?
13. Arrange the following units within a
skeletal muscle in order, from smallest to
largest: fascicle; sarcomere; muscle fiber;
myofibril
14. Give one example of connective tissue
that is found in muscles. Describe one of its
functions.
15. True or False: skeletal muscle fibers are
cells with multiple nuclei.
EXPLORE MORE
https://bio.libretexts.org/link?
16811#Explore_More
8/9
4/6/24, 10:28 AM 15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue - Biology LibreTexts
ATTRIBUTIONS 6. Muscle structure by National Cancer
1. Eyes by Nappy; public domain Institute, public domain via Wikimedia
2. Muscle tissue by Mdunning13, CC BY Commons
3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 7. Muscle fibers by OpenStax, CC BY 4.0
3. Muscles anterior labeled by Häggström, via Wikimedia Commons
Mikael (2014). "Medical gallery of 8. Actin-myosin filament by Boumphreyfr,
Mikael Häggström 2014". WikiJournal CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
of Medicine 1 (2). 9. Placenta by Gray38, public domain via
DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.008. ISSN Wikimedia Commons
2002-4436. Public Domain. via 10. Heart Wall by OpenStax College, CC
Wikimedia Commons BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
4. Muscles posterior labeled by 11. Text adapted from Human Biology by
Häggström, Mikael (2014). "Medical CK-12 licensed CC BY-NC 3.0
gallery of Mikael Häggström 2014".
WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). This page titled 15.3: Types of Muscle Tissue is
DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.008. ISSN shared under a CK-12 license and was
authored, remixed, and/or curated by Suzanne
2002-4436. Public Domain. via
Wakim & Mandeep Grewal via source content
Wikimedia Commons
that was edited to the style and standards of the
5. Muscle movement by CK-12 licensed LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is
CC BY-NC 3.0 available upon request.

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/15%3A_Muscular_System/15.3%3A_Types_of_Muscle… 9/9