Differences and Similarities Between the Three Types of Muscles. 

There are three types of muscles cardiac, smooth, and skeletal. Although they are all muscles they each have differences and similarities. Both skeletal and cardiac muscles are striated with high energy requirements; they contain a lot of mitochondria to supply ATP. In contrast, smooth muscle lacks striations and has fewer mitochondria and slow contractions. Skeletal muscle is multinucleated to meet high protein, while cardiac and smooth muscles have a single nucleus per cell, allowing for regulated contractions. Skeletal muscle is voluntary and controls body movements, while cardiac and smooth muscles are involuntary, with cardiac muscle driving the heartbeat and smooth muscle managing organ function, like digestion and blood flow. Cardiac muscle doesn't fatigue, essential for continuous heart activity, as is smooth muscle, which lines organs, while skeletal muscle fatigues more easily, supporting quick, intense movements. Each type is crucial for specific roles in body movement, organ function, and energy use. 

Diseases of the Skeletal and Muscular System

Students will work in groups of 3 - 5 to complete a project on diseases of the bones and the muscles. Each group will be assigned a disease that either affects the skeletal or the muscular system. Students must create an informational poster with each student being responsible for a category on the poster. Students will then present the poster orally. Each student is responsible for presenting their category from the poster, however, students should be knowledgeable about all aspects of their project and their disease.