
Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is not under conscious control. Instead, it is influenced by the autonomic nervous system. This means that the movements of cardiac muscle are automatic and involuntary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Control | Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and is not under conscious control |
| Involuntary movements | Cardiac muscle produces involuntary movements, meaning they are automatic and a person cannot control them |
| Pacemaker cells | The heart contains specialised types of cardiac tissue containing "pacemaker" cells, which contract and expand in response to electrical impulses from the nervous system |
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What You'll Learn
- Cardiac muscle is not under conscious control
- It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system
- The heart contains specialised types of cardiac tissue containing 'pacemaker' cells
- Pacemaker cells generate electrical impulses that tell cardiac muscle cells to contract and relax
- Cardiac muscle tissue gets its strength and flexibility from its interconnected cardiac muscle cells, or fibres

Cardiac muscle is not under conscious control
Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is not under conscious control. Instead, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This means that the movements of cardiac muscle are automatic and involuntary.
Cardiac muscle, also called the myocardium, is one of three major categories of muscles found within the human body, along with smooth muscle and skeletal muscle. While skeletal muscle is attached to the skeleton via tendons and can be consciously controlled by the somatic nervous system, cardiac muscle is not under conscious control.
The cardiac muscle comprises the bulk of the heart wall proper, with small amounts found in the superior vena cava and pulmonary vein. The heart also contains specialised types of cardiac tissue, including "pacemaker" cells, which contract and expand in response to electrical impulses from the nervous system. These pacemaker cells generate electrical impulses, or action potentials, that tell cardiac muscle cells to contract and relax. The branched nature of cells and gap junctions allows rapid propagation of action potentials across the entire myocardium, enabling the heart to contract and relax as a single unit.
The movements of cardiac muscle are therefore automatic and involuntary, and a person cannot control them.
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It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system
The cardiac muscle is not under conscious control. Instead, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This means that the cardiac muscle produces involuntary movements. The cardiac muscle has an automaticity centre that is influenced by the autonomic nervous system. The heart also contains specialised types of cardiac tissue, including 'pacemaker' cells, which contract and expand in response to electrical impulses from the nervous system. These pacemaker cells generate electrical impulses, or action potentials, that tell cardiac muscle cells to contract and relax. The pacemaker cells control heart rate and determine how fast the heart pumps blood. The cardiac muscle is made up of sarcomeres that allow for contractility. The branched nature of cells and gap junctions allow rapid propagation of action potentials across the entire myocardium, enabling the heart to contract and relax as a single unit.
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The heart contains specialised types of cardiac tissue containing 'pacemaker' cells
Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is not under conscious control. Instead, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The cardiac muscle comprises the bulk of the heart wall proper, and small amounts are found in the superior vena cava and pulmonary vein.
Cardiac muscle is one of three major categories of muscles found within the human body, along with smooth muscle and skeletal muscle. It is made up of sarcomeres that allow for contractility. The heart is made up of three layers: pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The endocardium is not cardiac muscle and is comprised of simple squamous epithelial cells and forms the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. The pericardium is a fibrous sac surrounding the heart, consisting of the epicardium, pericardial space, parietal pericardium, and fibrous pericardium.
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Pacemaker cells generate electrical impulses that tell cardiac muscle cells to contract and relax
Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is not under conscious control. Instead, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The heart contains specialised types of cardiac tissue, including 'pacemaker' cells, which contract and expand in response to electrical impulses from the nervous system.
Pacemaker cells generate electrical impulses, or action potentials, that tell cardiac muscle cells to contract and relax. The pacemaker cells control heart rate and determine how fast the heart pumps blood. The branched nature of cells and gap junctions allow rapid propagation of action potentials across the entire myocardium, enabling the heart to contract and relax as a single unit (functional syncytium).
Cardiac muscle tissue gets its strength and flexibility from its interconnected cardiac muscle cells, or fibres. Cardiac muscle is one of three major categories of muscles found within the human body, along with smooth muscle and skeletal muscle. It is made up of sarcomeres that allow for contractility.
Cardiac muscle comprises the bulk of the heart wall proper, and small amounts are found in the superior vena cava and pulmonary vein.
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Cardiac muscle tissue gets its strength and flexibility from its interconnected cardiac muscle cells, or fibres
Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is not under conscious control. Instead, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This means that the movements of cardiac muscle are automatic and involuntary. The heart also contains specialised types of cardiac tissue containing 'pacemaker' cells, which contract and expand in response to electrical impulses from the nervous system.
The cardiac muscle makes up the bulk of the heart wall proper, and small amounts are found in the superior vena cava and pulmonary vein. The heart is made up of three layers: the pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The endocardium is not cardiac muscle and is comprised of simple squamous epithelial cells, which form the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. The pericardium is a fibrous sac surrounding the heart, consisting of the epicardium, pericardial space, parietal pericardium, and fibrous pericardium.
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Frequently asked questions
No, cardiac muscle is not under conscious control.
Cardiac muscle is controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
Cardiac muscle is made up of sarcomeres that allow for contractility. The heart is made up of three layers: the pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium.









































