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Muscles are attached at two or more places and contract and relax to move bones. When muscles contract, the attachment points are pulled closer together; when they relax, the attachment points move apart. The movement of muscles is coordinated and controlled by the brain and nervous system. Smooth and cardiac muscle move to facilitate body functions like heartbeats and digestion, while skeletal muscles move our bodies in space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How muscles move | Muscles are attached at two or more places. When the muscle contracts, the attachment points are pulled closer together; when it relaxes, the attachment points move apart. |
| The movement of muscles is coordinated and controlled by the brain and nervous system. | |
| The autonomic part of the nervous system directs the movement of smooth and cardiac muscles to facilitate body functions like heartbeats and digestion. | |
| The specific nerves that innervate each muscle direct the movement of skeletal muscles. | |
| Messages travel from nerves to muscles and trigger chemical reactions that change the internal structures of muscle fibre cells, causing the muscle to contract. | |
| The muscle fibres relax when the nervous system signal is no longer present, thus reversing the shortening. | |
| Types of movement | Flexion and extension are usually movements forward and backward from the body, such as nodding the head. |
| Flexion: decreasing the angle between two bones (bending). |
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What You'll Learn
Muscles are attached at two or more places
Messages travel from nerves to muscles and trigger chemical reactions that cause muscles to contract. These reactions change the internal structures of muscle fibre cells, a process that shortens the muscle. The muscle fibres relax when the nervous system signal is no longer present, thus reversing the shortening.
The movements your muscles make are coordinated and controlled by the brain and nervous system. The involuntary muscles are controlled by structures deep within the brain and the upper part of the spinal cord called the brain stem. The voluntary muscles are regulated by the parts of the brain known as the cerebral motor cortex and the cerebellum. When you decide to move, the motor cortex sends an electrical signal through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to the muscles, causing them to contract.
Flexion and extension are usually movements forward and backward from the body, such as nodding the head. Flexion decreases the angle between two bones (bending).
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Muscles contract and relax to move bones
Messages travel from nerves to muscles and trigger chemical reactions that change the internal structures of muscle fibre cells, a process that shortens the muscle. The muscle fibres relax when the nervous system signal is no longer present, thus reversing the shortening. The movements your muscles make are coordinated and controlled by the brain and nervous system. The involuntary muscles are controlled by structures deep within the brain and the upper part of the spinal cord called the brain stem. The voluntary muscles are regulated by the parts of the brain known as the cerebral motor cortex and the cerebellum. When you decide to move, the motor cortex sends an electrical signal through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to the muscles, causing them to contract. The motor cortex on the right side of the brain controls the muscles on the left side of the body and vice versa.
Flexion and extension are usually movements forward and backward from the body, such as nodding the head. Flexion is the decrease in the angle between two bones (bending).
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Smooth and cardiac muscle move to facilitate body functions like heartbeats and digestion
Muscles allow us to move. Smooth and cardiac muscle move to facilitate body functions like heartbeats and digestion. The movement of these muscles is directed by the autonomic part of the nervous system—those are the nerves that control organs.
The muscles that move the human skeleton vary greatly in shape and size and extend to every part of our bodies. They are attached at two or more places. When the muscle contracts, the attachment points are pulled closer together; when it relaxes, the attachment points move apart. Muscles contract and relax to move bones. The elbow joint bends (flexes) when muscles pull on the radius and ulna of the arm. Muscles contract when messages travel from nerves to muscles and trigger chemical reactions. These reactions change the internal structures of muscle fibre cells, a process that shortens the muscle. The muscle fibres relax when the nervous system signal is no longer present, thus reversing the shortening.
The movements your muscles make are coordinated and controlled by the brain and nervous system. The involuntary muscles are controlled by structures deep within the brain and the upper part of the spinal cord called the brain stem. The voluntary muscles are regulated by the parts of the brain known as the cerebral motor cortex and the cerebellum. When you decide to move, the motor cortex sends an electrical signal through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to the muscles, causing them to contract. The motor cortex on the right side of the brain controls the muscles on the left side of the body and vice versa.
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The brain and nervous system control muscle movement
Muscles are attached at two or more places and allow us to move. They pull on the joints and bones, causing them to bend. Smooth and cardiac muscles move to facilitate body functions like heartbeats and digestion. The movement of these muscles is directed by the autonomic part of the nervous system.
Messages travel from nerves to muscles and trigger chemical reactions that change the internal structures of muscle fibre cells, causing them to contract. When the nervous system signal is no longer present, the muscle fibres relax, reversing the shortening.
Flexion and extension are usually movements forward and backward from the body, such as nodding the head. Flexion decreases the angle between two bones, causing bending.
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Flexion and extension are movements forward and backward from the body
Muscles are attached at two or more places, and they contract and relax to move bones. When muscles contract, the attachment points are pulled closer together; when they relax, the attachment points move apart. The movement of muscles is coordinated and controlled by the brain and nervous system. The brain stem controls involuntary muscles, while the cerebral motor cortex and the cerebellum regulate voluntary muscles. When you decide to move, the motor cortex sends an electrical signal through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to the muscles, causing them to contract.
Muscles play a crucial role in various body functions, including heartbeats, digestion, and breathing. They enable us to move and perform tasks such as chewing food and communicating through speech and facial expressions. Skeletal muscles, attached to bones by cord-like tendons, are responsible for moving our bodies in space. They vary in shape and size and are found throughout the body, allowing us to perform a wide range of movements and maintain physical fitness.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles are attached at two or more places. When the muscle contracts, the attachment points are pulled closer together; when it relaxes, the attachment points move apart.
Muscles contract when messages travel from nerves to muscles and trigger chemical reactions. These reactions change the internal structures of muscle fibre cells, a process that shortens the muscle.
The muscle fibres relax when the nervous system signal is no longer present, thus reversing the shortening.
Flexion and extension are usually movements forward and backward from the body, such as nodding the head. Flexion: decreasing the angle between two bones (bending).
