Types of Muscles- Structures (Simplified)

1) Skeletal muscle: Voluntary

• Elongated or tubular.
• Have multiple nuclei. Nuclei are located on the periphery of the cell.
• Striated, i.e, have alternating pattern of light and darks bands.

2) Cardiac muscle: Involuntary

• Not as long as skeletal muscles. Are often branched.
• Can be mononucleated or binucleated. In both cases nuclei are placed centrally.
• Have striations like that of skeletal.
• Also display Intercalated Discs & Oblique Bridges.

3) Smooth muscle: Involuntary

• Spindle shaped (tapering ends)
• Uninucleated & it is centrally located.
• No striations though they have same contractile proteins.