Both red and white muscles are skeletal muscles that perform various functions in the body.
Red muscles are thicker with blood vessels, with more myoglobin and mitochondria – giving the red signal On the other hand, white muscles have very few mitochondria and are very poor in myoglobin, giving the muscles a “white” appearance. Read on to learn more differences between red and white muscle.
Difference Between Red and White Muscle
| Red Muscle Fibers | White Muscle Fibers |
| Definition | |
| Red muscles are a type of skeletal muscle which are dense with capillaries and is rich in myoglobin and mitochondria | White muscles are also a type of skeletal muscle, but contains lower amounts of mitochondria and are myoglobin poor |
| Mitochondria | |
| More in number | Comparatively less in number |
| Sarcoplasmic Reticulum | |
| Red muscles have reduced quantities of SR | White muscles have more SR |
| Fatigue | |
| Can perform aerobic oxidation without accumulating much lactic acid – hence, can contract for long periods of time | Performs anaerobic oxidation and accumulates lactic acid much quicker than red muscles – hence, gets fatigued after short bursts of contraction |
| Rate of Contractions | |
| Slow rate of contraction | Fast rate of contraction |
| Example | |
| Extensor muscle | Muscles of the eye ball |
- They have a very rich blood supply.
- They have a very poor blood supply.
- e.g. extensor muscles of the back in mane.
- Extra-ocular muscles
