8. How do you distinguish between a skeletal muscle and a cardiac muscle?
The differences between skeletal muscles and cardiac muscles are as follows:
Skeletal muscle | Cardiac muscle |
The functions of skeletal muscles are voluntary. | Cardiac muscles function involuntarily. |
The cells of these muscles are unbranched. | The cells of these muscles are branched. |
Intercalated discs between the cells are absent. | Intercalated discs between the cells are present. |
These consist of alternate light and dark bands | These possess faint bands. |
Rapid contraction takes place due to which they get fatigued. | Although rapid contraction takes place they don't get fatigued too easily in a short duration of time. |
They help in locomotory actions and body posture as they are present in body parts such as the legs, hands, etc. |
Cardiac muscles help in the movements of the heart and are present in the heart. |