What is the Difference Between Smooth Muscle and Skeletal Muscle?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between smooth muscle and skeletal muscle lies in their structure, function, and control. Here are the key differences:
Smooth Muscle:
- Found in the walls of hollow visceral organs, such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines, as well as in the vascular and respiratory systems.
- Spindle-shaped cells with a single, centrally located nucleus.
- Lacks striations, hence the name "smooth" muscle.
- Involuntary control, meaning contractions are not directly controlled by the individual.
- Slow actions and rarely gets fatigued.
Skeletal Muscle:
- Attached to the skeleton and primarily controls movement and posture.
- Cylindrical, multinucleated, striated fibers.
- Voluntary control, allowing for conscious movement.
- Striated appearance due to the presence of myofibrils.
- Highly cellular and well-supplied with blood vessels.
In summary, smooth muscle is involuntary and plays a crucial role in the function of internal organs, while skeletal muscle is voluntary and primarily responsible for movement and posture.
Comparative Table: Smooth Muscle vs Skeletal Muscle
Here is a table comparing the differences between smooth muscle and skeletal muscle:
| Feature | Smooth Muscle | Skeletal Muscle |
|---|---|---|
| Location | In the walls of internal organs, such as the stomach, intestine, and blood vessels | Attached to bones and tendons, responsible for body movements |
| Contraction | Involuntary, slow, and rhythmic | Voluntary and fast |
| Structure | Spindle-shaped cells with one central nucleus | Cylindrical fibers with many nuclei, striated (having transverse streaks) |
| Energy Requirement | Lower energy requirement, fewer mitochondria, etc | High energy requirement, lots of mitochondria, creatine phosphate, and myoglobin |
| Fatigue | Less prone to fatigue | Fatigues easily |
| Contraction Speed | Slow and rhythmic | Fast and not rhythmic |
| Connective Tissue | Connective tissue sheaths similar to other muscles | Connective tissue sheaths similar to other muscles |
In summary, smooth muscles are involuntary and found in the walls of internal organs, while skeletal muscles are voluntary and attached to bones and tendons. Smooth muscles have a slower and rhythmic contraction, whereas skeletal muscles contract faster and do not have rhythmic contractions. The energy requirements for smooth muscles are lower than those for skeletal muscles.
- Skeletal vs Smooth Muscle Contraction
- Skeletal Muscle vs Cardiac Muscle
- Smooth Muscle vs Cardiac Muscle
- Multiunit vs Visceral Smooth Muscle
- Actin vs Myosin
- Voluntary vs Involuntary Muscles
- Connective Tissue vs Muscle Tissue
- Muscle Cells vs Nerve Cells
- Myofibrils vs Sarcomeres
- Myofibril vs Muscle Fiber
- Sarcolemma vs Sarcoplasmic Reticulum
- Striated Non Striated vs Cardiac Muscles
- Muscular Tissue vs Nervous Tissue
- Endomysium vs Sarcolemma
- Contractile vs Noncontractile Tissue
- Type 1 vs Type 2 Muscle Fibers
- Innervated vs Denervated Muscles
- Lamina Propria vs Muscularis Propria
- Muscle Tone vs Muscle Strength