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Muscular Tissue

Striated (skeletal) Muscle

Identifying Features

Striations caused by overlapping actin and myosin filaments.
Multinucleated

Functions

Major body muscle contractions involved in locomotion and facial expressions
Protection
Heat production

Location

All major body muscles

Cardiac Muscle

Low Magnification

Identifying Features

Striated appearance
Branched fibres
Intercalated discs (these appear as occasional dark lines)
Single nucleus per cell

Function

Heart muscle contraction. Propels blood into circulation (involuntary contractions)

Location

Walls of heart.

Smooth

Identifying Features

Long thin cells with tapering ends
Single nucleus
No striations

Function

Involuntary Muscle contraction

Locations

Walls of digestive tract, respiratory tract, blood vessels.

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