What Are the Three Types of Muscles in the Human Body?
There are three different types of muscles in the body: cardiac, skeletal and smooth. The muscles determine your body's ability to function and move.
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Cardiac Muscles
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Cardiac (heart) muscles are involuntary and contract in response to electrical stimulation in the heart. These muscles are very dependent on oxygen and can begin to die within minutes without adequate oxygen, so aerobic exercise to strengthen the heart should start slowly and increase in intensity.
Skeletal Muscles
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Skeletal muscles are voluntary, so you can move, talk, eat and run. They are attached by ligaments and tendons to bones throughout the body. They become easily tired and stiff and cannot stay contracted for long periods, so warm-up exercises, which increase circulation, improve endurance.
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Smooth Muscles
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Smooth muscles are involuntary visceral (internal) muscles that form the walls of organs and blood vessels throughout the body. These muscles respond to both nervous stimulation and movement of the skeletal muscles, so exercising skeletal muscles mechanically moves these muscles as well.
Muscle Characteristics
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All muscles can contract and extend. Muscles can respond to nervous stimuli, such as pain, but the heart is under autonomic control so it beats automatically.
Warning
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Muscles are elastic so that they can easily contract and extend, returning to original size, but overstretching and overuse can impair the elasticity and permanently damage muscles.
Tip
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Always do stretching and warm-ups before beginning strenuous exercise to increase circulation to your muscles.
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