involuntary

(noun)

A muscle movement not under conscious control (e.g. the beating of the heart).

Related Terms

  • myocytes
  • myofibrils
  • myofilaments
  • vo
  • involunta
  • myosi
  • acti
  • myosin
  • actin
  • striated
  • voluntary
  • myofilament
  • intercalated disc
  • myofibril
  • myocyte

Examples of involuntary in the following topics:

  • Structure and Function of the Muscular System

    • Both voluntary and involuntary muscular system functions are controlled by the nervous system.
    • Muscle tissue can be classified functionally as voluntary or involuntary and morphologically as striated or non-striated.
    • As with skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is striated; however it is not consciously controlled and so is classified as involuntary.
    • Smooth muscle is non-striated and involuntary.
  • Neurons and Glial Cells

    • The nervous system coordinates the body's voluntary and involuntary actions and transmits signals between different parts of the body.
    • The PNS includes motor neurons (mediating voluntary movement), the autonomic nervous system (comprising the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulate involuntary functions), and the enteric nervous system (a semi-independent part of the nervous system whose function is to control the gastrointestinal system).
  • Movement and Migration

    • The simplest example of this is a reflex action: an involuntary and rapid response to stimulus.
  • The Respiratory System and Direct Diffusion

    • Breathing is an involuntary event.
  • Muscle Tissues and Nervous Tissues

    • Constriction of smooth muscle occurs under involuntary, autonomic nervous control in response to local conditions in the tissues.
  • Digestive System: Mouth and Stomach

    • The peristaltic movement of the esophagus is an involuntary reflex, taking place in response to the act of swallowing.
  • Digestive System: Small and Large Intestines

    • Two sphincters between the rectum and anus control elimination: the inner sphincter is involuntary, while the outer sphincter is voluntary.
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