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The penis is not a muscle, but it does contain some muscle fibres and is surrounded by muscles that are involved in producing an erection. The penis is made up of a mix of tissues, glands, and muscle fibres that work together to create an erection. The penis is also not a bone, but it does sit near the pubic bone and the other bones that make up the pelvis.
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What You'll Learn
Skeletal muscle
There are more than 600 skeletal muscles in the human body. They include shoulder muscles, hamstring muscles, and abdominal muscles. Skeletal muscles are also an endocrine organ. They play a central role in maintaining thermostasis and act as an energy source during starvation. Skeletal muscles also act as a storage source for amino acids that different organs of the body can use for synthesising organ-specific proteins.
The functions of skeletal muscle include producing movement, maintaining body posture, controlling body temperature, and stabilizing joints. Two types of sensory receptors found in muscles are muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. Muscle spindles are stretch receptors located in the muscle belly, while Golgi tendon organs are proprioceptors located at the myotendinous junction that inform of a muscle's tension.
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Smooth muscle
On the other hand, multi-unit smooth muscle is found in the trachea, in the iris of the eye, and lining the large elastic arteries. It is neurogenic, meaning its contraction must be initiated by the autonomic nervous system. Despite being classified as single-unit or multi-unit, smooth muscle is influenced by a combination of different neural elements, resulting in a somewhat coordinated response even in multi-unit smooth muscle.
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Cardiac muscle
The heart is made up of three layers: the pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The myocardium forms a thick middle layer between the outer layer of the heart wall (the pericardium) and the inner layer (the endocardium). The endocardium is not cardiac muscle but is made up of simple squamous epithelial cells and forms the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. The pericardium, on the other hand, is a fibrous sac surrounding the heart, consisting of the epicardium, pericardial space, parietal pericardium, and fibrous pericardium.
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Muscle injuries and conditions
Another type of muscle injury is a laceration, which occurs when the muscle is cut by an external object during accidents. Contusions are also common, especially in contact sports, where compressive forces are involved. Repetitive strain injuries can occur from repeating the same movement over time, and accidental strains can happen during everyday activities.
Certain conditions can also cause muscle pain and weakness. For example, people with autoimmune conditions such as scleroderma, vasculitis, and myositis often experience muscle pain due to inflammation of the muscles. Infections such as influenza, coxsackievirus, and Lyme disease can also lead to muscle aches and weakness. Additionally, hormonal imbalances, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can cause muscle issues. Fibromyalgia is a condition characterised by diffuse muscle pain without associated inflammation.
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Muscle fibres
There are three types of muscle tissue in the body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscle fibres are attached to the skeleton by tendons and control the body's voluntary movements, such as walking, bending over, or picking up an object. They are striated, meaning they have a striped appearance due to the repeating thick and thin filaments that make up the muscle tissue. Skeletal muscle fibres are further classified into two types: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 fibres use oxygen to generate energy for movement and are slow-twitch (ST) fibres, while type 2 fibres are fast-twitch (FT) and can be further divided into subtypes 2A and 2B. FT fibres break down ATP twice as fast as ST fibres and are used for quick, powerful movements, but they fatigue quickly. On the other hand, ST fibres are useful for long-lasting activities such as holding a posture and endurance activities like running or swimming.
Smooth muscle fibres, unlike skeletal muscles, are not striated and have a more uniform appearance. They are found in internal organs and eyes, and their movements are involuntary. Smooth muscle fibres have an oblong shape and are thousands of times shorter than skeletal muscle fibres.
Cardiac muscle fibres are striated and are only found in the heart. They have their own rhythm, contracting in a coordinated way thanks to special cells called pacemaker cells that generate impulses. These impulses spread in a wavelike pattern, facilitating the beating of the heart. Cardiac muscle fibres are branched and interconnected, and their contractions are involuntary.
Additionally, muscles can be classified based on their shape, such as fusiform, triangular, rhomboidal, and pennate. Pennate muscles resemble feathers, with muscle fibres approaching a central tendon at an oblique angle, maximising the muscle's force potential. They are often involved in generating large forces to support or propel the body's weight.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the penis is not a muscle. It is made of spongy tissue that fills with blood when a person gets an erection.
The corpus cavernosum, a part of the penis, contains spongy tissue and arteries that run along its middle.
The muscles around the corpus cavernosum are responsible for the penis filling with blood and becoming erect. The pubococcygeal (PC) muscles also support the penis and control bladder and sexual function.
While the penis does not contain muscles, exercises like Kegels can strengthen the PC muscles that support it.
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