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Muscles are made up of thousands of small elastic fibres that contract and relax to allow movement. When the fibres contract, they get shorter, pulling the bones they're connected to closer together. The brain, nerves and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement, and this is known as the neuromuscular system. Muscles allow us to consciously move our limbs, jump in the air, and chew our food. They are also responsible for many more processes that we cannot actively control, such as keeping our hearts pumping, moving food through our guts, and even making us blush.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How muscles allow movement | Muscles contract, which generates movement |
| They use energy from food to produce movement | |
| They allow us to consciously move our limbs, jump in the air, chew our food, speak, and control heartbeat, breathing, and digestion | |
| They are made up of thousands of small elastic fibres that contract and relax to cause movement | |
| They are controlled by the brain, which sends electrical messages to the muscles |
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What You'll Learn
- Muscles contract to generate movement
- Skeletal muscles are the only muscles that can be consciously controlled
- The brain sends electrical messages to skeletal muscles to make them move
- Muscles are made up of thousands of small elastic fibres that contract and relax to cause movement
- The muscular system is also responsible for seemingly unrelated functions, including temperature regulation and vision
Muscles contract to generate movement
There are three main types of muscle: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are the only muscles that can be consciously controlled. They are attached to bones, and contracting the muscles causes movement of those bones. Any action that a person consciously undertakes involves the use of skeletal muscles. The brain, nerves and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement. This is collectively known as the neuromuscular system.
The brain sends a message to the motor neurones, which triggers the release of the chemical acetylcholine from the presynaptic terminals. The muscle responds to acetylcholine by contracting. Muscles also need energy from food to contract and move.
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Skeletal muscles are the only muscles that can be consciously controlled
Muscles allow movement by contracting and relaxing, which pulls the bones they're connected to closer together. The brain, nerves and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement. This is known as the neuromuscular system. The brain sends electrical messages to the skeletal muscles, which then contract and cause movement.
There are three main types of muscle: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. The largest muscle in the body is the gluteus maximus in the buttocks. The muscular system also controls heartbeat, breathing, and digestion, as well as seemingly unrelated functions, including temperature regulation and vision.
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The brain sends electrical messages to skeletal muscles to make them move
Muscles allow movement by contracting and relaxing, which pulls the bones they're connected to closer together. This movement is generated by the energy from our food. The brain, nerves and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement, collectively known as the neuromuscular system. The brain sends electrical messages to the skeletal muscles, which are the only muscles that can be consciously controlled. These muscles are attached to bones, and when they contract, they cause movement of those bones.
The brain sends a message to the motor neurones, which plug directly into the skeletal muscle. This triggers the release of the chemical acetylcholine from the presynaptic terminals. The muscle responds to acetylcholine by contracting.
The neuromuscular system is responsible for many processes that we cannot actively control, such as keeping our hearts pumping, moving food through our guts, and even making us blush. However, it also allows us to consciously move our limbs, jump in the air, and chew our food.
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Muscles are made up of thousands of small elastic fibres that contract and relax to cause movement
There are three main types of muscle: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are the only muscles that can be consciously controlled. They are attached to bones, and contracting the muscles causes movement of those bones. Any action that a person consciously undertakes involves the use of skeletal muscles. The brain, nerves and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement. This is collectively known as the neuromuscular system.
The brain sends a message to the nerves, which triggers the release of the chemical acetylcholine. The muscle responds to acetylcholine by contracting. Muscles use energy from our food to produce movement.
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The muscular system is also responsible for seemingly unrelated functions, including temperature regulation and vision
Muscles allow movement by contracting and relaxing. When the fibres contract, they get shorter, pulling the bones they're connected to closer together. This movement is controlled by the brain, which sends electrical messages to the muscles.
The muscular system includes three main types of muscle: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are the only muscles that can be consciously controlled. They are attached to bones, and contracting these muscles causes movement of those bones. Any action that a person consciously undertakes involves the use of skeletal muscles.
Cardiac muscle, on the other hand, is found only in the heart and acts involuntarily. It pumps blood around the body and stimulates its own contractions to form our heartbeat. Smooth muscle lines the inside of organs and is responsible for functions like digestion.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles allow movement by contracting and relaxing. When the fibres contract, they get shorter, which pulls the bones they're connected to closer together.
Muscles contract when they receive signals from the brain. The brain sends a message to the motor neurones, which triggers the release of the chemical acetylcholine. The muscle responds to acetylcholine by contracting.
Muscles allow gross movement, which refers to large, coordinated motions, and fine movement. They allow us to consciously move our limbs, jump in the air, and chew our food. They are also responsible for processes that we cannot actively control, such as keeping our hearts pumping, moving food through our guts, and even making us blush.
