Muscle Tissue and Its Types

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definition, extra functions, and types of muscle tissue based on the biology lecture notes.

Muscle Tissue

A tissue composed of cells that can contract and relax to produce movement, with additional functions including producing heat, maintaining body posture, and shaping the body.

Muscle Cells

Specialized, active cells that compose muscle tissue to produce force, power, and movement through contraction and relaxation.

Three Types of Muscle Tissue

The three distinct types of muscle tissue found in the human body: skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle.

Skeletal Muscle

A type of muscle tissue attached to bones that operates under voluntary (conscious) control to move the bones or the body as a whole.

Smooth Muscle

A type of muscle tissue found in the walls of internal organs—such as the stomach, intestines, blood vessels (arteries and veins), bladder, and uterus—that contracts involuntarily without conscious control.

Cardiac Muscle

A type of muscle tissue found in the heart that functions to pump blood through arteries to all parts of the body.

Voluntary Control

Conscious control over muscle movement, as demonstrated by skeletal muscles during actions like leg and arm movement.

Involuntary Control

Muscle activity that occurs without conscious control, such as the smooth muscle contractions that move food through the digestive system.