Cardiac muscle is striated like skeletal muscle, but is controlled by both the autonomic nervous system and its own pacemaker cells, causing it to contract automatically and rhythmically.

Cardiac muscle cells contract and relax to pump blood around our bodies. Smooth muscle cells make up thin sheets of muscle, such as the stomach lining. Skeletal muscle is joined to bones.

Involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles are responsible for contraction of the heart and movement of substances through hollow organ systems, respectively, and voluntary skeletal muscles are ...