Which term describes muscle tissue that is under conscious control?

Which term describes muscle tissue that is under conscious control?

• A. Voluntary
• B. Involuntary
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (A)

Conscious control describes voluntary muscle. Skeletal muscles that move bones are the ones you can decide to use, like lifting your arm or typing. The brain sends signals through the somatic nervous system to motor neurons, triggering these muscles to contract when you intend to act. This contrasts with involuntary muscle, which includes smooth muscles in organs and cardiac muscle in the heart that operate automatically without conscious thought, governed by the autonomic nervous system. So the term that fits describes tissue you can willfully command—voluntary.

Conscious control describes voluntary muscle. Skeletal muscles that move bones are the ones you can decide to use, like lifting your arm or typing. The brain sends signals through the somatic nervous system to motor neurons, triggering these muscles to contract when you intend to act. This contrasts with involuntary muscle, which includes smooth muscles in organs and cardiac muscle in the heart that operate automatically without conscious thought, governed by the autonomic nervous system. So the term that fits describes tissue you can willfully command—voluntary.