1.Visceral: these muscles surround the tubes and ducts and produce peristalsis as demonstrated in the digestive system.[6]
2.Segmental: causing telescoping of muscle segments required for moulting, increase in body pressure and locomotion in legless larvae.[6]
3.Appendicular: originating from either the sternum or the tergum and inserted on the coxae these muscles move appendages as one unit.[6] These are arranged segmentally and usually in antagonistic pairs.[4] Appendage parts of some insects, e.g. the galea and the lacinia of the maxillae, only have flexor muscles. Extension of these structures is by haemolymph pressure and cuticle elasticity.[4]
4.Flight: Flight muscles are the most specialised category of muscle and are capable of rapid contractions. Nerve impulses are required to initiate muscle contractions and therefore flight. These muscles are also known as neurogenic or synchronous muscles. This is because there is a one to one correspondence between action potentials and muscle contractions. In insects with higher wing stroke frequencies the muscles contract more frequently than at the rate that the nerve impulse reaches them and are known as asynchronous muscles.