Difference Between Cardiac Muscle And Skeletal Muscle

Muscles are the most important features of a human being. They help in a lot of functions that take place in a daily activity of a human being. There are basically three muscles present in the human body such as smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and skeletal muscles. The smooth muscles are present in the blood vessels of the body. The cardiac muscles are present in the heart. The skeletal muscles are found attached throughout the human body. Cardiac muscles are found in the heart and are involuntary muscles. The skeletal muscles are found in the bones and are voluntary muscles. Overall, while both types of muscle tissue have striations and use the same molecular mechanisms to generate force, they differ in their structure, function, control, contraction, fatigue, and regenerative capacity.

Cardiac Muscle 

Cardiac Muscles are one of the three types of Muscles found in a living body. These muscles are found only in the heart. They are responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. These muscles are involuntary in nature which means it is not under conscious control. These muscles contract rhythmically and continuously to pump blood. These muscles are made up of branched and striated fibres with a single nucleus. These muscles have limited capacity for regeneration after injury or damage.

Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal Muscles are one of the three types of Muscles found in a living body. These muscles are found attached throughout the human body. These muscles are responsible for movement and maintaining posture. These muscles are voluntary in nature which means it is under conscious control. These muscles contract in response to nerve impulses and can be stimulated to contract or relax. These muscles can become fatigued with prolonged use. These muscles are made up of long, cylindrical, striated fibres with multiple nuclei. These muscles have a higher capacity for regeneration after injury or damage.

Differences Between Cardiac muscle and Skeletal muscle

Characterization	Cardiac Muscle	Skeletal Muscle
Structure	Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart of the body.	Skeletal muscle is found throughout the body.
Appearance	Cardiac muscle is made up of branched and striated fibres with a single nucleus.	Skeletal muscle is made up of long, cylindrical and striated fibres with multiple nuclei.
Function	The cardiac muscle is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.	Skeletal muscle is responsible for movement and maintaining posture.
Control	The cardiac muscle is an involuntary muscle which means it is not under conscious control.	Skeletal muscle is a voluntary muscle which means it is under conscious control.
Contraction	Cardiac muscle contracts rhythmically and continuously to pump blood.	Skeletal muscle contracts in response to nerve impulses and can be stimulated to contract or relax.
Fatigue	Cardiac muscle has a low rate of fatigue due to its continuous and rhythmic contractions.	Skeletal muscles can become fatigued with prolonged use.
Regeneration	Cardiac muscle has a limited capacity for regeneration after injury or damage.	Skeletal muscle has a higher capacity for regeneration after injury or damage.

Similarities

There are a few similarities between cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle. Such as both the muscles are striated in nature. The shape of both muscles is cylindrical. Both the muscles are made using actin and myosin filaments so that the actin slides over the myosin during the contraction of the muscles.

FAQs on Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle

Question 1: What are some common diseases and conditions that affect cardiac muscle?

Answer:

There are some common diseases and conditions that affect cardiac muscle including coronary artery disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

Question 2: How is the skeletal muscle nourished?

Answer:

Skeletal muscle is nourished by a network of blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the muscle cells.

Question 3: What is unique about cardiac muscles?

Answer:

The cardiac muscle fibres are that they have their own autorhythmicity. Unlike smooth or skeletal muscle which requires neural input for contraction, cardiac fibres have their own pacemaker cells like the sinoatrial node that spontaneously depolarize.

Question 4: What affects the cardiac muscle?

Answer:

The conditions that affect the heart are a past heart attack, coronary artery disease or an infection in the heart and the main thing is long-term high blood pressure.