Answer:
1. Skeletal muscles are voluntary, while the muscle tissue in the intestines is involuntary.
2. The muscle tissue in the intestines is smooth muscle, whereas skeletal muscles are composed of striated muscle fibers.
3. Smooth muscle in the intestines exhibits slow, rhythmic contractions called peristalsis, which help move food along the digestive tract. Skeletal muscles, on the other hand, can contract rapidly and produce powerful movements.
4. Smooth muscle in the intestines is not under conscious control, whereas skeletal muscles can be consciously controlled.
5. The arrangement of muscle fibers differs between the two types. In the intestines, smooth muscle fibers are organized in circular and longitudinal layers, allowing coordinated contractions for peristalsis. Skeletal muscles have a parallel arrangement of fibers that work together to produce specific movements.
6. The structure of smooth muscle cells in the intestines includes a single nucleus, dense bodies for muscle contraction, and lack of striations. Skeletal muscle cells have multiple nuclei, clear striations due to sarcomere organization, and are larger in size compared to smooth muscle cells.