Skeletal Cardiac Smooth

Sarcomere Yes Yes No

Nuclei Multinucleated, peripherally 1-2 centrally located One, centrally located
located
Sarcoplasmic reticulum Well-developed Some, not-well defined Smooth SR-calcium store
T-tubule  Yes, have triads Yes, diads None
 Located at A-I junction Located at Z-lines
Calcium in power-stroke  Dihydropyridine receptors  Extracellular calcium influx  Calcium influx from voltage-
mechanism interact with ryanodine through DHPR or voltage- gated or ligand-gated channels
receptor, trigger calcium gated calcium channels, in plasma membrane
release from SR. inducing calcium-induced  Calcium release from
calcium elease through intracellular stores (eg
ryanodine receptor at sarcoplasmic reticulum)
sarcoplasmic reticulum through ryanodine receptor
and inositol triphosphate
receptor (IP3R)
Contraction system  Actomyosin system  Actomyosin system  Phosphorylation-
dephosphorylation of myosin
light chain kinase.
Tetani Can occur Cannot occur Cannot occur
Troponin Yes Yes No
Tropomyosin Yes Yes Yes
Cell junctions None Intercalated discs and gap Gap junctions
junctions
Contraction  Voluntary  Involuntary  Involuntary
 Fast  Slower  Slow
Connective tissue Epimysium, peripmysium, Connective tissue sheaths and CT sheaths and endomysium
endomysium endomysium
Regeneration Yes, through satellite cells
Energy source Aerobic metabolism at moderate
levels of activity
Innervation Sensory: muscle spindles
Motor: In most cases, one motor
plate per cell.
Distinctive features Striated, long cylindrical shaped,
many peripheral nuclei.
Some
Aerobic metabolism, lipid (main)
or carbohydrate as substrates
Autonomic nerves.
Striated, intercalated discs,
branched cells.
Yes
Aerobic metabolism (anaerobic at
peak activity)
Can maintain tone independent of
neve supply, but regulated by
autonomic nerves.
Spindle-shaped and unbranched.