©The Author(s) 2025.
World J Methodol. Dec 20, 2025; 15(4): 102408
Published online Dec 20, 2025. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v15.i4.102408
Published online Dec 20, 2025. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v15.i4.102408
Table 4 Skeletal vs gastrointestinal smooth muscle: Similarities and dissimilarities
| Feature | Skeletal muscle | Gastrointestinal smooth muscle |
| Excitable tissue | Yes | Yes |
| Contractile proteins | Actin and myosin | Actin and myosin |
| Sarcoplasmic reticulum | Yes | Yes |
| Contraction mechanism | Sliding filament | Sliding filament |
| Calcium dependence | Yes | Yes |
| Control | Voluntary | Involuntary |
| Innervation | Motor neurons | Autonomic nervous system |
| Hormonal regulation | Yes | Yes |
| Attachment to bone | Yes | No |
| Fiber nuclei | Multinucleated | Uninucleated |
| Fiber arrangement | Bundles of striated (striped) fibers | Sheets or layers of non-striated fibers |
| Contraction speed | Fast and powerful | Slow and sustained |
| Contraction pattern | Brief bursts | Tonic (sustained) |
| Dominant respiration | Anaerobic | Aerobic |
| Regeneration | Limited | Better capacity |
| Fatigue resistance | Susceptible | Highly resistant |
| Main control system | Central nervous system | Enteric nervous system |
- Citation: Al-Beltagi M, Saeed N, Bediwy A, Elbeltagi R. Navigating gastrointestinal challenges in genetic myopathies: Diagnostic insights and future directions. World J Methodol 2025; 15(4): 102408
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/2222-0682/full/v15/i4/102408.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5662/wjm.v15.i4.102408