Definition of muscle tissue, character and types of muscular tissue with functions.

Definition: Muscle tissue is highly cellular, well vascularized tissue that is responsible for movement of an organ or part of the body. 
Muscle fibers: The long skeletal and smooth muscle cells are celled muscle fibers. Muscle fiber is the structural and functional unit of the muscle which contains myofibrils. 
Types of Muscle tissue: There are three basic types of muscular tissue on the basis of morphology and functional characteristics.

1.     Skeletal muscle, Which is striated, voluntary and constitutes the muscles of skeleton. 2. Smooth muscle, which is not striated, involuntary and provides the muscle of the blood vessels, internal organs, and viscera. 3. Cardiac muscle, which is also striated but involuntary and is the muscle of the heart.

Functional characteristics of muscle tissue:

1.     Excitability is the ability of the muscle fiber to receive and respond to a stimulus.

2.     Conductivity is the ability of the muscle fiber to propagate a limit stimulus.

3.     Contractility is the ability of the muscle fiber to shorten and thicken.

4.     Extensibility is the ability to be stretched or extended.

5.     Elasticity is the ability of a muscle fiber to return to its resting length after contraction.

Functions of muscles:

Producing movement: All movements of the body and its parts are result of muscle contraction.

Maintaining posture: Skeletal muscles maintain posture.

Stabilizing joints: Muscles stabilize and strengthen the joints of the skeleton.

Generating heat: Muscles generate heat as they contract this heat is important in maintaining normal body temperature.