http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Human Biology
- skeletal muscle: Voluntary muscle that is attached to bones of the skeleton and helps the body move.
- smooth muscle: Involuntary muscle that is found in the walls of internal organs, such as the stomach.
- voluntary muscle: Muscle that is under your conscious control.
Summary
- Muscles that are under your conscious control are called voluntary muscles, while muscles that are not under
your conscious control are called involuntary muscles. - The three types of muscles in the body include skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle.
Practice
Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.
- Three Types of Musclesat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9yTwS4v0Gc (4:04)
MEDIA
Click image to the left for more content.- Why are some muscles called "voluntary" and some called "involuntary"?
- How is it beneficial for an organism to have both voluntary and involuntary muscles? Think carefully, and
explain your answer fully. - What is the function of skeletal muscles? What is the function of cardiac muscles? How do these different
functions relate to the structural differences between the types of muscle? - Where are smooth muscles found? What is the function of smooth muscles? Given the function of smooth
muscles, are you surprised by where they are found? Why or why not?
Review
- Which two of the three types of muscles in the body are involuntary?
- Distinguish between skeletal muscle and smooth muscle.