What is the Difference Between Muscle Cells and Nerve Cells?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Muscle cells and nerve cells, also known as myocytes and neurons, respectively, are two distinct types of cells with different functions and structures. Here are the main differences between them:
- Function: Muscle cells are responsible for contraction, which enables movement and force generation, while nerve cells are responsible for relaying information and communication throughout the body.
- Structure: Muscle cells can be long, striated, cylindrical, and multinucleated, with three main types: smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, and skeletal muscles. Nerve cells, on the other hand, are composed of a cell body, dendrites, and axon, and are classified into three types: sensory neurons, motor neurons, and mixed neurons.
- Division: Muscle cells can divide, while nerve cells cannot.
- Respiration: Muscle cells show both aerobic and anaerobic respiration, whereas nerve cells show only aerobic respiration.
- Membrane: The plasma membrane of muscle cells is called sarcolemma, and the cytoplasm is called sarcoplasm. The plasma membrane of nerve cells is called neurilemma, and the cytoplasm is referred to as neuroplasm.
- Control: Muscle cells can be either voluntary (skeletal muscles) or involuntary (smooth and cardiac muscles), while nerve cells are always involuntary.
In summary, muscle cells are specialized for contraction and movement, while nerve cells are specialized for transmitting information and communication in the form of electrical impulses.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Muscle Cells and Nerve Cells? Comparative Table: Muscle Cells vs Nerve Cells
Comparative Table: Muscle Cells vs Nerve Cells
Here is a table comparing the differences between muscle cells and nerve cells:
Feature | Muscle Cells | Nerve Cells |
---|---|---|
Function | Contraction and movement of body parts | Transmission of signals throughout the body |
Structure | Composed of contractile fibers, multinucleated, cylindrical, and long | Composed of cell body, dendrites, axon, and presynaptic terminal |
Types | Striated, smooth, and cardiac muscles | Sensory nerve cells, motor nerve cells, and associated nerve cells |
Excitable | Yes, they generate electrochemical impulses and conduct them along the membrane | Yes, their cell membrane can produce electrochemical impulses |
ATP Generation | Contains specialized structures like mitochondria for generating ATP | Require ATP energy for their function |
Role in Coordination | Muscle cells are responsible for relaxation and contraction of muscles | Nerve cells transmit messages throughout the body by responding to stimuli |
Both muscle cells and nerve cells are essential components of the body, serving different functions. Muscle cells are responsible for the contraction and movement of body parts, while nerve cells transmit signals throughout the body to coordinate various activities.
Read more:
- Muscular Tissue vs Nervous Tissue
- Nerve vs Neuron
- Nerve Pain vs Muscle Pain
- Glial Cells vs Neurons
- Sensory vs Motor Nerves
- Smooth Muscle vs Skeletal Muscle
- Nerves vs Hormones
- Skeletal Muscle vs Cardiac Muscle
- Neurons vs Neuroglia
- Nervous Tissue vs Nervous System
- Innervated vs Denervated Muscles
- Nerve vs Vein
- Nerves vs Blood Vessels
- Connective Tissue vs Muscle Tissue
- Tissue vs Cell
- Myofibril vs Muscle Fiber
- Sensory vs Motor Neurons
- Stem Cells vs Normal Cells
- Smooth Muscle vs Cardiac Muscle