Why are the muscles that move food through your digestive tract called involuntary muscles?

• A. Because they are controlled by the skeletal system
• B. Because they only function during sleep
• C. Because they contract automatically without conscious thought
• D. Because they are under conscious control

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the types of muscle tissue in the human body: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.
2. Recognize that smooth muscle is found in the walls of hollow organs, such as the digestive tract, and is responsible for moving food through the digestive system.
3. Identify that smooth muscle is classified as involuntary muscle because it operates without conscious control, meaning it contracts automatically.
4. Differentiate between voluntary muscles, like skeletal muscles, which are under conscious control, and involuntary muscles, like smooth and cardiac muscles, which are not.
5. Conclude that the muscles moving food through the digestive tract are called involuntary because they contract automatically, without the need for conscious thought.