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What are the differences between voluntary muscles and involuntary muscles?
Posted October 26, 2023
Basis of differentiation |
Voluntary muscles |
Involuntary muscles |
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Definition |
Refer to muscles that are controlled by an individual’s will and are almost always associated with the skeleton system |
Refer to muscles that are not controlled by an individual’s will and are often associated with organs that exhibit regular contractions and relaxation |
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Also known as |
Striated muscles or skeletal muscles |
Non-striated muscles or smooth muscles |
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Found in |
Found attached to bones of the body by means of tendons. |
Found lining the walls of internal organs in the body |
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Shape of muscle cells |
Muscle cells are long, cylindrical and unbranched |
Muscle cells are small and spindle-shaped |
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Composition of cell |
Multinucleated with a large number of mitochondria |
Uni-nucleated with one centrally located nucleus and fewer mitochondria |
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Type of Sarcolemma surrounding the muscle fibers |
Relatively thicker |
Relatively thinner |
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Sarcomeres |
Present in muscle fibers |
Absent |
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Intercalated discs |
Absent |
Present in some types of involuntary muscles such as cardiac muscle |
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Function |
Involved in the movement and locomotion of body parts |
Involved in internal movements of organs, facilitating the passage of fluids and food in the digestive system |
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Contraction |
Exhibit rapid and robust contractions |
Exhibit slow, rhythmic contractions |
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Energy requirement for contraction and relaxation |
Have a high energy requirement |
Have a low energy requirement |
Regulation |
Regulated by the somatic nervous system |
Regulated by the autonomic nervous system |
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Nerve stimuli |
Is generated from the outside by the nervous system |
Is myogenic or generated within the muscle |
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Fatigue and rest |
Get fatigued easily and require regular intervals of rest |
Do not fatigue and are able to work continuously |
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Examples |
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