Question
What are muscular tissues? Describe their various types.

Answer

Muscular tissue is contractile tissue. Muscular tissues are formed by muscle cells. Muscle cells are elongated and slender, therefore they are also called muscle fibres. Within muscle fibres, many myofibrils are found. Due to the qualities of contractility and excitability in muscles, they are crucial for movement and mobility. They constitute approximately $40-50 \%$ of the entire human body weight.
Types of Muscles : Muscles can be classified into three types based on their structure and function-Skeletal Muscles, Cardiac Muscles, and Smooth Muscles.
1. Skeletal Muscles: These muscles are responsible for the movement of skeletal parts and aid in locomotion. They are connected to bones via tendons. They are also known as striated or voluntary muscles. They receive impulses from the voluntary nervous system, hence contracting according to one's will. Though these muscles contract rapidly, they tend to tire quickly. The majority of muscles in the body fall into this category and primarily assist in movement and changing physical postures.
2. Cardiac Muscles: These muscles are exclusively found in the heart. They are striated and involuntary muscles, controlled by the involuntary nervous system.
They possess the property of self-excitability and do not fatigue. These muscles are responsible for the contraction of the heart.
3. Smooth Muscles : Found in internal organs such as the digestive and circulatory systems. They are non-striated and involuntary muscles. They receive impulses from the autonomic nervous system. Their contraction is slow, leading to delayed fatigue. They play a major role in the movement of substances within lumens, for example, aiding digestion and transportation of gametes in the reproductive system. 

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