Logan Steele
Muscles are a soft tissue, one of the four basic types of animal tissue. There are over 600 muscles in the human body, which is made up of 42% skeletal muscle in men and 36% in women. Muscles are formed of thousands of small fibres, which contract and relax to move your organs and body. They are responsible for a range of functions, from pumping blood around the body to supporting movement and lifting heavy weights. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones via tendons, and are under our conscious control, whereas cardiac and smooth muscles contract involuntarily.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Soft tissue, one of the four basic types of animal tissue |
| Muscle Tissue Types | Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth |
| Muscle Tissue Composition | Actin and myosin fibres, covered by a cell membrane (sarcolemma) |
| Muscle Tissue Function | Contraction and relaxation, leading to movement |
| Neuromuscular System | Brain, nerves, and skeletal muscles working together for movement |
| Muscle Location | Throughout the body, including the back, chest, arms, legs, calves, and shoulders |
| Muscle Shape | Spindle, flat, triangular, and circular |
| Muscle Groups | Biceps, triceps, abdominals, glutes, chest, and more |
| Muscle Health | Fuelled by glucose, and requiring minerals, electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, etc. |
| Muscle Disorders | Myopathy, leading to weakness, pain, or paralysis |
| Muscle Treatment | RICE method, stretching, warming up, and medical tests |
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What You'll Learn
Types of muscle tissue
Muscle is a soft tissue, one of the four basic types of animal tissue. There are three types of muscle tissue in vertebrates: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. Each muscle type has unique cellular components, physiology, specific functions, and pathology.
Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal muscle is the specialised tissue that is attached to bones and allows movement. Together, skeletal muscles and bones are called the musculoskeletal system or locomotor system. Skeletal muscle is broadly classified into two fibre types: type I (slow-twitch) and type II (fast-twitch). Type I, slow-twitch, is dense with capillaries and is rich in mitochondria and myoglobin, giving the muscle tissue its characteristic red colour. Type II, fast-twitch muscle, has three major kinds that are, in order of increasing contractile speed: Type IIa, Type IIx (also known as type IId), and Type IIb. Skeletal muscle constitutes approximately 40% of the total human body weight.
Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac muscle or myocardium is an involuntary, striated muscle that makes up the middle layers of the heart. It encloses the chambers of the heart and is comprised of individual cardiomyocytes, which are similar in structure to skeletal muscle. The heart is the only organ that is also a muscle.
Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle tissue is non-striated and involuntary. It is found within the walls of organs and structures such as the oesophagus, stomach, intestines, bronchi, uterus, urethra, bladder, blood vessels, and the arrector pili in the skin that control the erection of body hair. Smooth muscle is present throughout the gastrointestinal, reproductive, urinary, vascular, and respiratory systems.
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Skeletal muscle
The muscle fibres are composed of myofibrils, which are made up of actin and myosin filaments called myofilaments. These are repeated in units called sarcomeres, which are the basic functional, contractile units of the muscle fibre necessary for muscle contraction. The arrangement of actin and myosin gives skeletal muscle its microscopic striated appearance. The outermost sheath of connective tissue covering each muscle is called epimysium. Each muscle is made up of groups of muscle fibres called fascicles, surrounded by a connective tissue layer called perimysium. Multiple units of individual muscle fibres within each fascicle are surrounded by endomysium, a connective tissue sheath.
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Cardiac muscle
Muscle is one of four basic types of animal tissue. There are three types of muscle tissue in vertebrates: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle.
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Smooth muscle
Multi-unit smooth muscle, on the other hand, is neurogenic, meaning its contraction must be initiated by an autonomic nervous system neuron. It is found in the trachea, in the iris of the eye, and lining the large elastic arteries. Smooth muscle in the iris controls the dilation and constriction of the pupils, while smooth muscle in the skin causes hairs to stand on end, such as with goosebumps.
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Muscle injuries and treatment
Muscle injuries are common, and everyone experiences a sore muscle from time to time. However, persistent muscle pain, weakness, and other symptoms can indicate more serious issues. Muscle injuries can be caused by a variety of factors, from sudden sprinting, twisting, or jumping to repetitive strain injuries from repeating the same movement over and over.
Muscle strains, or pulled muscles, are among the most common muscle injuries. They occur when the muscle fibres are stretched or torn, which can be mild or severe. Mild strains involve only a few broken fibres, while severe strains result in a complete tear through the muscle. Pulled muscles can be very painful, and the frustration of having to refrain from favourite sports and activities during recovery can be challenging.
The treatment for muscle injuries depends on the specific condition and its severity. Many muscle injuries can be managed at home using the RICE method: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This helps reduce pain and inflammation during the initial recovery phase. It is important to avoid the activity that caused the injury and give the muscle time to heal.
For lower body injuries, crutches can be useful to keep weight off the affected muscle. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as NSAIDs, can help manage pain during the early stages of recovery. After a few days, it is important to reintroduce gentle movement, and physical therapy can guide specific exercises to rehabilitate the muscle. In some cases, platelet-rich plasma injections may be used to stimulate tissue repair.
For severe muscle tears, medical care or even surgery may be required. Athletes, in particular, may face challenges due to extended recovery times, and aggressive treatments are being explored to reduce the time needed for return to play. However, the current data does not show convincing evidence of decreased recovery times with certain interventions.
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Frequently asked questions
A muscle is a soft tissue made up of thousands of elastic fibres bundled tightly together. These fibres stretch and press together to move your organs or body.
There are three types of muscle tissue in vertebrates: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that support the bones to maintain posture as well as control movement. Smooth muscles are involuntary muscles that line the inside of some organs. Cardiac muscles are also involuntary and are found only in the walls of the heart.
Muscle fibres are made of contractile proteins called actin and myosin, which interact to cause movement.
Muscles work by contracting or relaxing to cause movement. This movement may be voluntary, controlled directly by the individual, or involuntary, done without conscious awareness.
