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The human body has over 600 muscles that help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. There are three types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles, meaning we can control how and when they move. They make up 30-40% of our body mass and are attached to bones, allowing us to perform various movements and functions. Smooth muscles line our organs, while cardiac muscles are found in the heart, pumping blood throughout the body. Our muscles are made of thousands of small fibres that contract and relax, enabling us to move and perform various bodily functions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the body | More than 600 |
| Types of muscles | Skeletal, cardiac, smooth |
| Skeletal muscle as % of body mass | 30-40% |
| Skeletal muscle as voluntary or involuntary | Voluntary |
| Cardiac muscle as voluntary or involuntary | Involuntary |
| Smooth muscle as voluntary or involuntary | Involuntary |
| Function of skeletal muscle | Contract to move parts of the body closer to the bone that the muscle is attached to |
| Function of cardiac muscle | Pump blood throughout the body |
| Function of smooth muscle | Make organs contract to move substances through the organ |
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What You'll Learn
Skeletal muscle control
Skeletal muscle is the most common type of muscle in the body, comprising 30% to 40% of total body mass. It is a voluntary muscle, meaning you control how and when it moves and works. Skeletal muscle is attached to bones by tendons, and it allows you to perform a wide range of movements and functions. These muscles are under conscious control and are also known as striated muscles due to their striped appearance.
Skeletal muscle serves many purposes, including producing movement, maintaining posture and body position, regulating body temperature, storing nutrients, and stabilising joints. It works in conjunction with the bones of the skeleton to enable body movements such as running, holding your body still, or reaching for a book on a shelf. The contraction of skeletal muscle is primarily in response to a voluntary stimulus, receiving neural inputs from the somatic nervous system that allow for conscious control.
The brain, nerves, and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement, known as the neuromuscular system. Nerves controlling skeletal muscles correspond with neuron groups in the primary motor cortex of the brain's cerebral cortex. Signals are routed through the basal ganglia and modified by input from the cerebellum before being sent to the spinal cord and then to the muscles. Skeletal muscle fibres are composed of actin and myosin, which give the muscle its striated appearance and create functional units called sarcomeres.
Skeletal muscle disorders can manifest as muscle weakness, pain, or paralysis. These disorders include muscular dystrophies, congenital myopathies, inflammatory disorders, and diseases affecting the neuromuscular junction. Skeletal muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions that result in pain. Maintaining strong and healthy skeletal muscles is important for overall body health.
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Involuntary muscle control
Involuntary muscles are those that are not under conscious control. They are directed by the autonomic nervous system, which means they function without conscious thought. Cardiac and smooth muscles are examples of involuntary muscles. Smooth muscles line some organs, and cardiac muscles are a special type of muscle tissue that makes up the heart.
The body has more than 600 muscles, and they are made of thousands of small fibres woven together. These fibres stretch and press together to move the body and its organs. Skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones, are under conscious control and are, therefore, voluntary muscles. They make up 30-40% of total body mass.
Involuntary muscle movements can sometimes cause discomfort or make certain actions difficult. Biofeedback therapy is a treatment method that helps people gain control over these involuntary movements. It involves analysing and interpreting feedback from a person's body to determine the best course of treatment. Electromyographs (EMG), electroencephalographs (EEG), and electrocardiograms (ECG) are some tools used to collect data on muscle tension, brainwaves, and heart activity, respectively.
Spasticity is a condition that causes muscles to stiffen, tighten, and contract involuntarily. It is often due to damage to the brain, spinal cord, or nerves that carry signals to the muscles. Spasticity can cause muscles to freeze in a certain position or spasm suddenly, leading to jerks or kicks. It can affect various parts of the body, including the legs and the muscles that control speech. While spasticity can sometimes be helpful, such as in bracing oneself when standing or moving, it can also interfere with daily activities. Physical therapy, exercises, bracing, stretches, medicine, and, in some cases, surgery can help manage spasticity.
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Movement
The human body has over 600 muscles that help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. Skeletal muscles, which connect bones to other bones, are responsible for our body movements. These muscles make up 30% to 40% of our total body mass and are the most common type of muscle in our body. They are attached to bones through tendons, which are tough connective tissues. Examples of skeletal muscles include shoulder muscles, hamstring muscles, and abdominal muscles.
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles, meaning we consciously control how and when they work. Every physical action that a person consciously performs, such as speaking, walking, or writing, requires skeletal muscle. The brain, nerves, and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement, collectively known as the neuromuscular system. Nerve cells called motor neurons control the skeletal muscles, and each motor neuron controls several muscle cells in a group called a motor unit. When a motor neuron receives a signal from the brain, it stimulates all the muscle cells in its motor unit simultaneously. The size of the motor unit varies depending on the function of the muscle. For instance, muscles that require fine motor control, like those in our eyes or fingers, have fewer muscle fibers in each motor unit to improve the precision of the brain's control.
In contrast, smooth and cardiac muscles are involuntary muscles controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Smooth muscle tissue lines some of our organs, and visceral muscle, a type of smooth muscle, is found inside organs like the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels. These muscles help move substances through the organ. The heart, which is also a muscle, is made of cardiac muscle tissue and is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. Cardiac muscle tissue stimulates itself to contract and cannot be controlled consciously.
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Organ function
The human body has over 600 muscles that help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. Muscles are pieces of soft tissue that move our body and support our organs. The muscular system is an anatomical group that includes all the muscles in the body.
The heart is the only organ that is also a muscle. It is made of a special type of muscle tissue called cardiac muscle. The heart beats thousands of times a day to pump blood around the body. Cardiac muscle is an involuntary muscle, meaning it is not under conscious control.
Smooth muscle tissue lines some organs, and visceral muscle is found inside organs like the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels. Smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract controls digestion, and muscles in the urinary system help to rid the body of waste and toxins. Smooth muscle is also found in the blood vessels and helps to regulate body temperature.
Skeletal muscle is the most common type of muscle in the body and is the only voluntary muscle, meaning we have conscious control over it. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow us to perform a wide range of movements and functions. They make up 30-40% of our total body mass.
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Muscle disorders
In addition, cancers, such as soft tissue sarcoma, can affect muscles. Neuromuscular disorders, which affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles, can result in muscle weakness and atrophy. These disorders can be inherited or caused by gene mutations and may present in infancy, childhood, or adulthood. Muscular dystrophy, a type of neuromuscular disease, causes muscle weakness and the wasting away of muscle tissue.
Some muscle disorders may have unknown causes, but they can be diagnosed through various methods, including electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, musculoskeletal MRI, and needle biopsy. Treatment options include medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and surgery, with research ongoing into genetic therapies and new medications.
It is important to seek medical advice for muscle pain that persists beyond a week, especially if accompanied by symptoms such as sudden chest pain, trouble breathing or swallowing, severe pain, muscle spasms, loss of balance, vision problems, or issues controlling your bladder or bowels.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles are pieces of soft tissue that help the body move, breathe, swallow and stay alive. Humans have over 600 muscles in their body.
There are three types of muscles in the human body: skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle.
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles, meaning an individual has control over how and when they move and work. Skeletal muscles are the most common type of muscle in the human body and comprise 30% to 40% of an individual's total body mass.
Smooth and cardiac muscles are involuntary muscles that the autonomic nervous system controls. Cardiac muscles are responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. Smooth muscles are found inside organs like the stomach, intestines and blood vessels.
