What are the differences between voluntary muscles and involuntary muscles?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Voluntary muscles

Involuntary muscles

Definition

Refer to muscles that are controlled by an individual’s will and are almost always associated with the skeleton system

Refer to muscles that are not controlled by an individual’s will and are often associated with organs that exhibit regular contractions and relaxation

Also known as

Striated muscles or skeletal muscles

Non-striated muscles or smooth muscles

Found in

Found attached to bones of the body by means of tendons.

Found lining the walls of internal organs in the body

Shape of muscle cells

Muscle cells are long, cylindrical and unbranched

Muscle cells are small and spindle-shaped

Composition of cell

Multinucleated with a large number of mitochondria

Uni-nucleated with one centrally located nucleus and fewer mitochondria

Type of Sarcolemma surrounding the muscle fibers

Relatively thicker

Relatively thinner

Sarcomeres

Present in muscle fibers

Absent

Intercalated discs

Absent

Present in some types of involuntary muscles such as cardiac muscle

Function

Involved in the movement and locomotion of body parts

Involved in internal movements of organs, facilitating the passage of fluids and food in the digestive system

Contraction

Exhibit rapid and robust contractions

Exhibit slow, rhythmic contractions

Energy requirement for contraction and relaxation

Have a high energy requirement

Have a low energy requirement

Regulation

Regulated by the somatic nervous system

Regulated by the autonomic nervous system

Nerve stimuli

Is generated from the outside by the nervous system

Is myogenic or generated within the muscle

Fatigue and rest

Get fatigued easily and require regular intervals of rest

Do not fatigue and are able to work continuously

Examples

Biceps
Triceps
Quadriceps
Diaphragm 
Abdominals
Pectorals 
Hamstrings

Cardiac muscle 
Smooth muscle lining 
Blood vessels 
Respiratory tract 
Intestinal tracts 
Urogenital tracts

Basis of differentiation	Voluntary muscles	Involuntary muscles
Definition	Refer to muscles that are controlled by an individual’s will and are almost always associated with the skeleton system	Refer to muscles that are not controlled by an individual’s will and are often associated with organs that exhibit regular contractions and relaxation
Also known as	Striated muscles or skeletal muscles	Non-striated muscles or smooth muscles
Found in	Found attached to bones of the body by means of tendons.	Found lining the walls of internal organs in the body
Shape of muscle cells	Muscle cells are long, cylindrical and unbranched	Muscle cells are small and spindle-shaped
Composition of cell	Multinucleated with a large number of mitochondria	Uni-nucleated with one centrally located nucleus and fewer mitochondria
Type of Sarcolemma surrounding the muscle fibers	Relatively thicker	Relatively thinner
Sarcomeres	Present in muscle fibers	Absent
Intercalated discs	Absent	Present in some types of involuntary muscles such as cardiac muscle
Function	Involved in the movement and locomotion of body parts	Involved in internal movements of organs, facilitating the passage of fluids and food in the digestive system
Contraction	Exhibit rapid and robust contractions	Exhibit slow, rhythmic contractions
Energy requirement for contraction and relaxation	Have a high energy requirement	Have a low energy requirement
Regulation	Regulated by the somatic nervous system	Regulated by the autonomic nervous system
Nerve stimuli	Is generated from the outside by the nervous system	Is myogenic or generated within the muscle
Fatigue and rest	Get fatigued easily and require regular intervals of rest	Do not fatigue and are able to work continuously
Examples	Biceps Triceps Quadriceps Diaphragm Abdominals Pectorals Hamstrings	Cardiac muscle Smooth muscle lining Blood vessels Respiratory tract Intestinal tracts Urogenital tracts

Basis of differentiation

Voluntary muscles

Involuntary muscles

Regulation

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