Which types of muscles are primarily responsible for overall body movement?

Skeletal muscles are primarily responsible for overall body movement because they are attached to bones and are under voluntary control, meaning that an individual can consciously choose to move these muscles. When skeletal muscles contract, they pull on bones, facilitating movement at the joints, which is vital for actions such as walking, running, jumping, and performing any other physical activity.

These muscles are also involved in maintaining posture and stabilizing the skeleton during movement, making them crucial for both everyday actions and more complex physical exertions. In contrast, smooth and cardiac muscles are specialized muscles found in other areas of the body. Smooth muscles control involuntary movements in organs such as the intestines and blood vessels, while cardiac muscle specifically powers the heart and also operates involuntarily. Thus, while they are essential for the proper functioning of the body, they do not directly contribute to gross body movements in the same way that skeletal muscles do.