Describe the three types of muscle tissue and their functions?

Muscles in our body have different structures and functions, helping us move, pump blood, and support internal activities.

1. Skeletal Muscle

These muscles have a striped (striated) appearance and work under voluntary control, meaning you can move them when you want to. They are connected to bones by tendons.

Function: They help in movement, maintaining posture, and producing body heat. Examples: Muscles in your arms and legs that help you walk, run, or lift objects.

2. Cardiac Muscle

These muscles are also striated, but they are involuntary, meaning they work automatically without you thinking about it. They are found only in the heart. The muscle cells are connected by intercalated discs, allowing the heart to beat in a coordinated way.

Function: They help the heart pump blood throughout the body continuously and rhythmically.

3. Smooth Muscle

These muscles are non-striated (smooth) and involuntary. They are found in the walls of hollow organs, such as the stomach, intestines, blood vessels, and bladder.

Function: They help move substances inside the body. Examples: Moving food through the digestive system, controlling blood pressure by adjusting blood vessel size, and pushing urine out of the bladder.