Florida Basic Recruit Training Program High Liability (First Aid) Practice Exam

Which type of muscle can an individual actively contract and relax?

1. Cardiac muscles

2. Voluntary muscles

3. Involuntary muscles

4. Striated muscles

The correct answer is: Voluntary muscles

Voluntary muscles are the type of muscle tissue that individuals can actively contract and relax at will. This ability is due to the somatic nervous system, which controls these muscles, allowing for conscious movement. Examples of voluntary muscles include skeletal muscles, which are responsible for movements such as walking, lifting, and other actions that involve deliberate physical effort. Cardiac muscles, while striated in appearance, operate involuntarily and are responsible for the automatic contractions of the heart. Involuntary muscles, such as those found in the walls of internal organs, also function without conscious control. Striated muscles, on the other hand, refer to the visual pattern of the muscle fibers and can apply to both voluntary (skeletal) and involuntary (cardiac) muscles, making this term less specific than voluntary muscles.