Logan Steele
The human body is a complex system where the muscular system and the nervous system work together to allow us to perform various actions. The muscular system is made up of over 600 muscles, while the nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. Together, they enable us to perform actions such as sitting upright, scanning words on a page, and maintaining our balance and posture. This interplay between the two systems raises an interesting question: do muscles protect nerves?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the human body | 600 |
| Number of bones in the human body | 200 |
| Types of muscles | Smooth, skeletal, and cardiac |
| Types of bones | Compact (hard) bone, and cancellous (spongy) bone |
| Controlled by | Conscious and unconscious |
| Functions | Allow movement, control heartbeat and breathing, aid in digestion, and stabilize the body |
| Role in nervous system | Motor neurons bundled within them take orders from the brain and tell the muscles what to do |
| Role in strength training | High-load training conditions the nervous system to transmit electrical signals from the brain to muscles, increasing force |
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What You'll Learn
Motor neurons and muscle cells
Motor neurons, or motoneurons, are cells in the brain and spinal cord that allow us to move, speak, swallow, and breathe by sending commands from the brain to the muscles that carry out these functions. Their nerve fibres are the longest in the body, with a single axon stretching from the base of the spinal cord to the toes. Motor neurons are divided into upper and lower motor neurons, forming a two-neuron circuit.
Upper motor neurons originate in the cerebral cortex and travel down to the brain stem or spinal cord. They send higher-level motor information to the medulla or the correct spinal cord level outside the brain. They are responsible for controlling conscious movement.
Lower motor neurons begin in the spinal cord and innervate muscles and glands throughout the body. They are much more directly responsible for movement than upper motor neurons. When complex motor operations are required, the lower motor neurons consult the upper motor neurons, and they work together to provide a meaningful response.
There are three types of somatic motor neurons: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha motor neurons innervate extrafusal muscle fibres and are the primary means of skeletal muscle contraction. A single axon can innervate many muscle fibres within a single muscle, allowing for controlled, synchronous movement. Beta motor neurons are poorly characterized, but they innervate both extrafusal and intrafusal fibres. Gamma motor neurons innervate muscle spindles and dictate their sensitivity.
Motor neurons are essential for the body's ability to perform both voluntary and involuntary movements. They work with muscle cells to enable the body to carry out various actions simultaneously, such as sitting upright, scanning words on a page, and maintaining posture.
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The nervous system and muscle strength
The nervous system and the musculoskeletal system work together to allow the body to perform various actions. The musculoskeletal system consists of over 200 bones with about 600 muscles attached to them, usually across a joint consisting of two or more bones. The nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for receiving and analyzing sensory information, and sending signals to the muscles to perform coordinated actions.
The nervous system plays a pivotal role in strength training and muscle strength. It controls muscle activation and coordination, and communicates with muscles to enable them to contract and generate force. During strength training, the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) work together to activate motor units and produce force. The PNS controls voluntary movements, such as those performed during strength training, while the CNS, which includes the brain and spinal cord, processes information and sends signals to the rest of the body.
Motor unit recruitment refers to the process by which the nervous system activates motor units to produce force. The recruitment follows the size principle, with smaller motor units being recruited first and larger ones activated as the demand for force increases. During light resistance exercises, only the smaller, more fatigue-resistant motor units are activated, while during heavy lifting, the nervous system recruits larger, more powerful motor units. This progressive recruitment ensures that the appropriate amount of force is generated for the specific task.
The nervous system can also increase the firing frequency of motor neurons, a process known as rate coding. Higher firing frequencies cause muscle fibers to contract more forcefully, enhancing overall strength output. Over time, resistance training improves the nervous system's ability to synchronize these actions, resulting in greater strength. Additionally, the nervous system improves intermuscular coordination, allowing multiple muscles to work together during compound movements like squats.
The autonomic nervous system, composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, also plays a role in muscle strength and recovery. The sympathetic nervous system increases muscle contraction, heart rate, and blood flow, while the parasympathetic system promotes muscular relaxation, slows the heart rate, and relaxes blood vessel walls. A well-functioning autonomic nervous system can easily transition between these two component systems, maintaining a balance between stimulation and relaxation. This balance helps keep the cardiovascular system strong and facilitates muscle recovery.
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How muscles protect the spine
The spine, or backbone, is a bony structure that supports the body, gives it shape, and allows for flexibility and movement. It is made up of small bones called vertebrae, disks, joints, ligaments, and muscles. The spine also protects the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that connects the brain to the rest of the body.
The musculoskeletal system consists of over 200 bones with about 600 muscles attached to them. The bones and muscles are connected by tendons, which help prevent muscle injury and aid in movement. The muscles that support the spine and trunk are called back muscles. These muscles help control posture, enable movement, and assist in breathing. They start just under the skull, cover the shoulders, and run down the spine to just above the hips.
Strong back muscles can protect the spine and prevent spine conditions. Back-strengthening and stretching exercises can help to strengthen the core muscles that support the spine. Planks, for example, are an excellent way to strengthen the abdominal, side, and back muscles. Physical therapy can also help to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility, thereby relieving pain and improving posture.
It is important to stretch and warm up before exercise or physical activity to prevent muscle injuries. Increasing overall flexibility will also protect the muscles from injuries by giving the muscle fibers more room to stretch before they tear. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight and good posture (sitting up straight, not slouching) can help to protect the spine.
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The role of smooth muscles
Smooth muscle is one of the three major types of vertebrate muscle tissue, with skeletal and cardiac muscle being the other two. Smooth muscle is present throughout the body and serves a variety of functions. It is found in the walls of hollow internal organs, such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, and uterus. It is also present in the walls of passageways, including arteries, veins, and lymph vessels of the cardiovascular system.
Smooth muscle is an involuntary, non-striated muscle type, meaning it has no sarcomeres and therefore no striations (bands or stripes). It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and can be divided into two subgroups: single-unit and multi-unit smooth muscle. The single-unit type is found in the walls of most internal organs and lines blood vessels, the urinary tract, and the digestive tract. In this type, a single cell in a bundle is innervated by an autonomic nerve fiber, allowing an action potential to be propagated through neighbouring muscle cells due to the presence of gap junctions.
Smooth muscle plays a vital role in the regulation of blood pressure and tissue oxygenation. It helps with digestion and nutrient collection in the stomach and intestines, and it works in electrolyte balance throughout the urinary system. Smooth muscle is also responsible for sealing orifices, such as the pylorus and uterine os, and for transporting the chyme through wavelike contractions of the intestinal tube.
The pathophysiology of smooth muscle is diverse, and damage to it can have devastating effects on the body. For example, gastroparesis, a loss of gastric motility, can occur if the smooth muscle of the intestines is damaged. Smooth muscle is also implicated in various diseases, including atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms, where there is evidence that smooth muscle cell embryonic lineage may play a role in determining the location and presentation of these vascular diseases.
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The importance of core muscles
The core muscles are essential as they stabilize the centre of the body, providing a sturdy platform for the muscles of the appendicular skeleton to work against. This means that a strong core enhances balance and stability, allowing you to move in any direction without losing your balance, even on uneven ground.
The core muscles are made up of several important muscle groups, including the abdominals, obliques, back muscles, and the pelvic floor. The rectus abdominis is the well-known six-pack muscle, while the transversus abdominis is a deep muscle that helps with movement and spine stabilization. The obliques, as the name suggests, are located at the sides of the body and are involved in spinal protection and rotation. The back muscles, such as the quadratus lumborum, are crucial for posture, back pain issues, and overall mobility. The pelvic floor is also a vital part of the core, housing and supporting several organs and including connective tissues such as hamstrings and hip flexors.
By strengthening these various muscle groups, you can improve your posture, reduce back pain, and enhance your overall functional movement. Core exercises are particularly beneficial for individuals with back pain, offering a safer and more accessible form of exercise compared to resistance training. Furthermore, a strong core can help prevent falls and injuries during sports or other activities.
The diaphragm, a muscle associated with breathing, is also considered part of the core. Located at the base of the chest, the diaphragm contracts and flattens during inhalation and exhalation, and it also plays a role in digestive function and blood transportation to the heart. Thus, core strengthening can have wide-ranging benefits, from improved respiratory function to enhanced stability and injury prevention.
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Frequently asked questions
The musculoskeletal system consists of over 200 bones with about 600 muscles attached to them. Bones that make up each joint can usually be moved in two or more directions by pairs of complementary muscles, like the biceps and triceps flex and extend the elbow.
Nerve cells (neurons) and muscle cells (myocytes) are excitable, meaning that when adequately stimulated, they can reverse this resting membrane polarity. When a neuron is stimulated, it releases a neurotransmitter that affects either another neuron or a myocyte, which may be stimulated or inhibited.
While there is no direct evidence that muscles protect nerves, bones in the musculoskeletal system provide shape, support, and protection to the body's organs and systems. The skull protects the brain, the spinal column protects the spinal cord, and the ribs form a cage that shelters the heart and lungs.
Physical strength stems from exercising the nervous system as well as the muscles it controls. High-load training conditions the nervous system to transmit electrical signals from the brain to muscles, increasing the force those muscles can produce.
The skeletal muscles in your core help protect your spine and help with stability. The stronger your core muscles, the better you can stabilize your body. Stiff neck muscles, weak back muscles, or tight hip muscles can lead to poor posture and joint pain.
