Cardiac vs. Skeletal Muscle: Structural and Functional Differences
| Feature | Cardiac Muscle | Skeletal Muscle |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Heart only (myocardium) | Attached to skeleton |
| Control | Involuntary (autonomic) | Voluntary (somatic) |
| Cell Shape | Branched, short, cylindrical | Long, cylindrical, multinucleated |
| Nuclei | Single, central | Multiple, peripheral |
| Striations | Yes (sarcomeres) | Yes |
| Intercalated Discs | Yes (gap junctions + desmosomes) | No |
| Contraction | Rhythmic, automatic (pacemaker) | Phasic, neural stimulation |
| Fatigue Resistance | High (mitochondria-rich, aerobic) | Variable (fiber type dependent) |
These differences reflect the heart's need for continuous, coordinated pumping vs. skeletal muscle's role in voluntary movement.
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