Microscope | Mitosis
Epithelial Tissue | Connective Tissue | Muscle Tissue | Nervous Tissue
Nervous System | Skin | Skeletal System
BIO 201 Home | Saundra Minckley
Muscle Tissue
Muscle tissue aids the movement of blood through arteries and veins. It also allows your eyes to follow the text you are now reading; as well as, allowing you to take a walk in the park. Muscle contractions cause many types of "macro" and "micro" movements throughout the body. The contraction of muscle fibers produce heat. Muscle cells are called fibers because these cells are elongated into fiber-like structures.
General characteristics of muscle tissue include: excitability, conductivity,
contractility, extensibility, and elasticity. Muscle tissue is second in
excitability only to nerve tissue. An action potential is conducted along
it's sarcolemma (cell membrane) stimulating the muscle fiber to
contract (shorten). Skeletal (Striated) muscle is voluntary.
Which means you can consciously stimulate these muscle to contract. Cardiac
and Smooth (Visceral) muscles are involuntary. You have no
conscious control over these muscles.
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Microscope | Mitosis
Epithelial
Tissue | Connective Tissue | Muscle
Tissue | Nervous
Tissue
Nervous System | Skin | Skeletal System
BIO 201 Home | Saundra
Minckley