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Voluntary muscles, also known as red muscles or striated muscles, are muscles whose contraction is controlled by the will of the individual. They are divided into two categories: superficial and deep. Superficial muscles are mimic muscles, found only in the neck and head. Deep muscles are further divided into skeletal muscles (moving bones under conscious control) and muscles attached to other organs such as the eyes, ears, tongue and pharynx. Skeletal muscles are the most common type of voluntary muscle and are found throughout the body, attached to bones by tendons. They are composed of bundled units of fascicles, made up of muscle fibres or muscle cells. Examples of skeletal muscles include the biceps, triceps and quadriceps.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of muscle | Skeletal |
| Controlled by | Conscious thought, somatic nervous system |
| Location | Attached to bones, skin, eyes, ears, tongue, pharynx |
| Composition | Bundled units of fascicles, muscle fibres, myofibrils, myofilaments |
| Structure | Striated, striped |
| Contraction | Controlled by neurotransmitters |
| Examples | Biceps, triceps, quadriceps, neck, leg, back, abdominal muscles |
| Function | Movement, posture, stabilisation of joints, heat production |
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What You'll Learn
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles
Skeletal muscles are made up of bundled units of fascicles, which are composed of muscle fibers or muscle cells. Each muscle fiber is further divided into myofibrils, containing thick and thin myofilaments. The myofilaments give skeletal muscles their characteristic striated or striped structure. When these myofilaments move closer together, muscle contraction occurs, resulting in movement.
The contraction of skeletal muscles is regulated by voluntary brain activity. Each muscle fiber that makes up a skeletal muscle is connected to a nerve ending that receives signals from the brain. These signals trigger a series of chemical reactions, inducing nerve stimuli that are transmitted by motor nerve fibers and lead to muscle contraction.
Skeletal muscles can be further classified into superficial and deep muscles. Superficial muscles, also known as mimic muscles, are present in the neck and head. Deep muscles include skeletal muscles that move bones and muscles attached to other organs, such as the eyes, ears, tongue, and pharynx.
Weakness or an inability to control voluntary skeletal muscles can indicate underlying health issues, such as neuromuscular disorders or electrolyte imbalances. These disorders can damage the nerves or the neuromuscular junction, disrupting communication between nerves and muscles and resulting in significant muscle weakness, atrophy, or pain.
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Voluntary muscles are controlled by the somatic nervous system
Voluntary muscles are those under conscious control, such as the neck and leg muscles that move when you choose to move them. They are also known as "red muscles" or ""striated muscles" and are divided into two categories: superficial and deep. Superficial muscles are mimic muscles, found only in the neck and head. Deep muscles are further divided into skeletal muscle (moving bones under conscious control) and muscles attached to other organs, such as the eyes, ears, tongue, and pharynx.
Skeletal muscles are the most common type of muscle in the body and are voluntary muscles. They are attached to bones and consist of flexible muscle fibres that contract (tighten), allowing the muscles to move bones so you can perform different movements. They can be further classified according to their nodes of action. Agonist muscles are those that perform a movement by creating joint contraction, while antagonist muscles oppose the action of another muscle. For example, flexor muscles contract and cause a joint to close, while extensor muscles contract and cause a joint to open.
Disorders that affect the nerves that send electrical signals to voluntary skeletal muscles to control movement are called neuromuscular disorders. They can damage the nerve itself or the neuromuscular junction, where the signal is transmitted from a nerve to a muscle. When the nerves are damaged, communication between the nerves and muscles becomes disrupted, resulting in significant muscle weakness, atrophy, or pain.
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Agonist and antagonist muscles
Voluntary muscles are skeletal muscles that are attached to bones and can be consciously controlled. Examples of these include the muscles in the arms, legs, neck, back, and trunk.
Now, skeletal muscles are made up of agonist and antagonist muscles, which work together to create movement. The agonist muscle is the principal muscle involved in a particular movement and it contracts to produce that movement. For example, the biceps brachii is the agonist muscle during forearm flexion, such as when lifting a cup.
The antagonist muscle, on the other hand, has the opposite action of the agonist. It relaxes or lengthens to allow the movement produced by the agonist muscle. To continue with the previous example, the brachialis is the antagonist muscle during forearm flexion as it relaxes to allow the biceps brachii to contract and produce the movement.
Antagonist muscles play two important roles in muscle function. Firstly, they maintain the body or limb position, such as holding the arm out. Secondly, they control rapid movement, such as shadow boxing without landing a punch.
The roles of agonist and antagonist muscles can be observed in various exercises. For instance, in a bicep curl, the biceps are the agonist muscle as they contract, while the triceps are the antagonist muscle as they relax to allow the movement. Similarly, in a press-up, the triceps are the agonist muscle and the biceps are the antagonist during the downwards phase. During the upwards phase, their roles are reversed.
Another example is the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings in the legs. To extend the leg at the knee, the quadriceps femoris contracts and is the agonist, while the hamstrings relax to slow or stop the movement and are the antagonist. During the opposite action, flexion of the leg at the knee, the hamstrings contract and become the agonist, while the quadriceps femoris relax and become the antagonist.
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Superficial and deep voluntary muscles
Voluntary muscles are those that are under conscious control, such as the neck and leg muscles. They are divided into two categories: superficial and deep muscles.
Superficial muscles are mimic muscles, found only in the neck and head. They are responsible for facial expressions and movements of the tongue, finger, or hand.
Deep muscles are further divided into skeletal muscles and muscles attached to other organs. Skeletal muscles are under conscious control and are responsible for moving bones. They are attached to bones by tendons and are composed of bundled units of fascicles, which are made up of muscle fibers or muscle cells. Each muscle fiber is surrounded by a connective tissue layer of fascia. These muscles can contract and relax, allowing the body to move. They also help with maintaining posture and body position, stabilizing and strengthening joints, and producing heat to maintain body temperature.
Muscles of the eyes, ears, tongue, and pharynx are examples of deep muscles attached to other organs. These muscles are connected to nerve endings that receive orders from the brain. The release of neurotransmitters triggers a series of chemical reactions, causing nerve stimuli that induce muscle contraction.
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Examples of voluntary movements
Voluntary muscles are those that are under conscious control. They are also known as "red muscles" or "striated muscles". These muscles are composed of cylindrical fibres and are usually attached to bones and the skin. They play a crucial role in allowing the body to move by contracting and relaxing.
Voluntary movements are actions that you consciously control. For example, flicking your thumb to scroll through an article on your phone and sprinting around a track are both voluntary movements.
Skeletal muscles are a type of voluntary muscle. They are the most common type of muscle in the human body and are attached to bones by tendons. They consist of flexible muscle fibres that contract (tighten), allowing the muscles to move bones so you can perform various movements. Examples of skeletal muscles include major muscle groups that control the movement of the biceps and triceps in your arm, quadriceps in the legs, or your abdominals. When you reach for a book on a shelf, you are using the skeletal muscles in your neck, arm, and shoulder.
Voluntary muscles can be further classified into superficial and deep muscles. Superficial muscles are mimic muscles, present only in the neck and head. Deep muscles are divided into skeletal muscles (moving bones under conscious control) and muscles attached to other organs, such as the eyes, ears, tongue, and pharynx.
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Frequently asked questions
Voluntary muscles are those under conscious control, meaning you choose to perform an action and your muscles move your body to make it happen.
Examples of voluntary muscles include skeletal muscles, such as the muscles in your arms, legs, neck, back, and trunk.
Voluntary muscles are composed of cylindrical fibres and are usually attached to bones and the skin. They contract and relax to allow the body to move. Each muscle fibre that makes up a voluntary muscle is connected to a nerve ending that receives orders from the brain.
Involuntary muscles include cardiac muscles, which are found in the heart, and smooth muscles, which line the inside of some organs such as the lungs and intestines.
