Lesson 1 - Overview of Muscle Tissues

What are the three types of muscle tissue?

Skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle

What is the contraction process in the muscles?

A protein called actin is pulled by a protein called myosin

How does the contraction process work in the skeletal and cardiac muscles?

The binding sites of the actin protein is exposed in response to the interaction between the calcium ions and proteins (troponin and tropomyosin) that shield the actin binding sites.

What are the two proteins involved in muscle contraction?

Actin and myosin

How does contraction work in smooth muscle?

The role of calcium activates enzymes, which activate myosin heads. This causes myosin to bind to actin, leading to contraction.

Elasticity

The ability of muscle tissue to return to its original shape after being stretched or contracted.

Extensibility

The capacity of muscle tissue to be stretched without damage.

Contractility

The ability of muscle tissue to contract actively and generate force.

Excitability or responsiveness

The ability of muscle tissue to respond to stimuli, such as nerve impulses, leading to contraction.

Skeletal muscles

A type of muscle tissue that is striated and under voluntary control, responsible for movement of the skeleton.

Cardiac Muscles

Involuntary, striated muscle tissue found only in the heart, responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.

Involuntary

muscle tissue that operates without conscious control, such as in cardiac and smooth muscles.

Voluntary

muscle tissue that operates under conscious control, primarily exemplified by skeletal muscles.

Smooth muscles

Involuntary muscle tissue found in the walls of hollow organs, such as the intestines and blood vessels, responsible for involuntary movements.

Purposes of the muscles

Movement, maintaining posture, stabilizing joints, and generating heat