Types of Muscles

Type of Muscle	Characteristics of Each Type
Smooth Muscle	found in internal organs and blood vessels. Made up of sheets of cells that are ideally shaped to form a lining for organs such as the digestive tract and reproductive tract. Most common function is to squeeze, exerting pressure on the space inside the tube or organ it surrounds. Contractions are slow and prolonged compared with the other two kinds of muscles. They are an example of involuntary muscle contractions, are not under conscious control.
Cardiac Muscle	involuntary muscle, which is interconnected and forms a network that helps the heart muscle contract efficiently. Found only in the heart and is adapted to conduct the electrical impulses necessary for rhythmic contraction.
Skeletal Muscle	type of muscle that is attached to bones and moves the skeleton. Contractions are short and strong, providing the force needed for movement. The majority of the muscles in your body are skeletal muscle, and, as you know, you can control their contractions. Voluntary muscle contracts under conscious control. When the muscle contracts, the bones are pulled by tendons.