Difference Between Voluntary Muscle and Involuntary Muscle

Every human being is constructed with muscles. Muscles are soft tissues they consist of actin and myosin. They both constructively help create and change the shape and length of muscle cells.

Key Takeaways

1. Voluntary muscles are consciously controlled, primarily used for locomotion and manipulation; involuntary muscles function without conscious effort, regulating internal processes.
2. Skeletal muscles are the primary type of voluntary muscles, while involuntary muscles include smooth and cardiac muscles.
3. Under a microscope, voluntary muscles exhibit a striated appearance, while involuntary muscles have a smoother, non-striated appearance.

Voluntary Muscle vs Involuntary Muscle

The difference between voluntary muscle and involuntary muscle is that the voluntary muscle is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The voluntary muscles are multinucleated, long, and cylindrical however the involuntary muscles are uninucleated, thin, small, and spindle in shape.

Voluntary is muscles present in the body that can have flexible movement on the free will of the person. Whereas involuntary muscles are present in the body cannot be controlled.

Comparison Table

Parameter of Comparison	Voluntary Muscle	Involuntary Muscle
Control	It is controlled by the central nervous system	It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system
Contraction	The contractions are rapid and powerful	The contractions are slow and rhythmic always
Energy	The requirement of energy is high	The requirement of energy is less
Cell	The cells are multinucleated	The cells are uninucleated
Shape	They are long and cylindrical	They are small, thin and spindle
Nucleus	Nucleus is present in the outer walls of the cell	It is present in the center of the cell
Work	It works under command	It does not work under control
Rest Period	It requires rest at regular intervals	It works continuously
Sarcolemma	Sarcolemma present is thick	Sarcolemma present is thin
Present in	It is present in the tongue, diaphragm and found attached to bones	It is present in alimentary tracts, respiratory tracts, blood vessels, etc.
Involvement	It is required in the movement of body parts	It is required in internal organ movement

What is Voluntary Muscle?

Voluntary muscles are muscles on the body that can perform flexible movement on the free will of the person and they are always attached to the skeleton system.

The sarcolemma is thick and it connects the muscle fiber to the connective tissue. Voluntary muscle plays a vital role in body movement. Contracting and relaxing the muscles.

What is Involuntary Muscle?

Involuntary muscles are muscles in the body that cannot be controlled, they are linked with the organs present in the body that makes slow and rhythmic continuous contraction and relaxation movement.

Unlike the voluntary muscles, the involuntary muscles are also known as visceral muscles as they are located in the walls of the internal organs such as urinary bladders, uterus, alimentary canal, etc. they are thin, long, and spindle-shaped.

Main Difference Between Voluntary Muscle and Involuntary Muscle

1. The voluntary muscle requires rest at regular intervals as they fatigued after some time. The involuntary muscles can work continuously without any rest.
2. The sarcolemma present in the voluntary muscles is thick whereas the sarcolemma present in the involuntary muscle is thin.

References

1. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM196412032712302
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090379812002322