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The muscular system is a group of muscles that enable body movement. There are three types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow voluntary body movements. Smooth muscles are found in internal organs and aid in involuntary movements that occur in the circulatory, digestive, excretory, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Cardiac muscle forms the walls of the heart and stimulates its own contractions to form our heartbeat. Together, these muscles account for around 40% of a person's weight, with the largest muscle in the body being the gluteus maximus in the buttocks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the human body | More than 600 |
| Types | Skeletal, smooth, cardiac |
| Composition | Thousands of elastic fibres bundled tightly together |
| Function | Contractibility, movement, pumping blood, supporting movement, lifting heavy weights, giving birth, posture, joint stability, heat production |
| Controlled by | Brain, nerves |
| Neuromuscular system | Brain, nerves, skeletal muscles working together to cause movement |
| Muscular dystrophy | Group of disorders associated with progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass |
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What You'll Learn
Types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac
The human body is made up of more than 600 muscles, which are pieces of soft tissue that help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. The muscular system consists of all the muscles of the body. There are three types of muscle tissues in the human body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
Skeletal Muscles
Skeletal muscles are attached to the bones and allow movement. They are under our conscious control and are, therefore, also known as voluntary muscles. They also contribute to energy metabolism and storage. They constitute approximately 40% of the total human body weight. Their composition is made up of many individual fibers bundled together into a muscle spindle, giving them a striated or striped appearance.
Smooth Muscles
Smooth muscle tissue lines some of our organs, and is located in various internal structures including the digestive tract, uterus, and blood vessels such as arteries. They are also found in the walls of hollow visceral organs like the liver, pancreas, and intestines. They are not under conscious control and are, therefore, known as involuntary muscles. Their cells are arranged in sheets instead of bundles, giving them a smooth appearance.
Cardiac Muscles
Cardiac muscles are found only in the walls of the heart and are, therefore, also known as myocardium. They appear striated or striped because they are arranged in bundles. They are under involuntary control. They contain a great many mitochondria, which produce ATP for energy, helping the heart resist fatigue.
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Muscles and the neuromuscular system
The human body has over 600 muscles that are constantly in use. These muscles are pieces of soft tissue that help the body move, breathe, swallow, pump blood, and perform other functions that help us stay alive. The three main types of muscle are skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
Smooth muscle tissue lines some of our organs, although most organs are also made of other tissue types. The heart is the only organ that is also a muscle, made of a special type of muscle tissue called cardiac muscle.
The brain, nerves, and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement, and this is collectively known as the neuromuscular system. The neuromuscular system connects muscles and nerves, controlling body movements and functions. Nerves called motor neurons carry messages from the brain to the muscles, making them contract and move. The neuromuscular junction, where nerve terminals release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, triggers muscle contraction.
The neuromuscular system also includes sensory neurons, which communicate sensory information back to the brain. When neurons become unhealthy or die, communication between the nervous system and muscles breaks down, resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.
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Muscle disorders and injuries
The human body has over 600 muscles, which help us move, breathe, swallow, pump blood, and support our organs. The three main types of muscles are skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow us to move. Smooth muscles line our organs and are located in the digestive tract, uterus, and blood vessels. The heart is a hard-working muscle and the only organ that is also a muscle.
Some common muscle injuries include lacerations, contusions, strains, and degenerative diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Lacerations occur when the muscle is cut by an external object during accidents. Contusions occur when there is a compressive force to the muscle during contact sports. Strains occur when muscle fibres cannot withstand excessive tensile forces, usually during rapid acceleration or deceleration.
Inflammation of the muscle, or myositis, can be seen in patients with autoimmune conditions such as scleroderma, vasculitis, and inflammatory myopathy. Infections such as influenza, coxsackievirus, and Lyme disease can also cause muscle aches and weakness. Certain medications, such as statins, hydroxychloroquine, colchicine, and steroids, can cause toxicity to muscles.
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Muscles and movement
The human body has over 600 muscles, which are pieces of soft tissue that help us move, breathe, swallow, and survive. They are made of thousands of small fibres woven together, and these fibres stretching and pressing together move our organs and body. The three main types of muscle are skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow movement. They are under our conscious control and are also known as voluntary muscles. They are typically grouped into opposing pairs, such as biceps and triceps. The skeletal muscles are also responsible for posture, joint stability, and heat production.
Smooth muscles are located in various internal structures, including the digestive tract, uterus, and blood vessels. They are also called involuntary muscles because their movement happens without our conscious awareness. Smooth muscles help move food through and out of the body, and they also help focus our vision and adjust to different light levels.
Cardiac muscle is the muscle specific to the heart. The heart contracts and relaxes without our conscious awareness, pumping blood through the body.
The brain, nerves, and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement, and this is known as the neuromuscular system. The muscles are serviced by motor neurons, which attach to and control bundles of muscle fibres.
Muscles can be strengthened through exercise and physical activity, which can help prevent injuries and keep the body healthy.
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Muscles and health
The human body has over 600 muscles, which are pieces of soft tissue that help us move, breathe, swallow, and perform other vital functions. The muscular system is composed of specialised cells called muscle fibres, which are bundled tightly together and work by either contracting or relaxing to cause movement.
There are three main types of muscle: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow movement. They are under our conscious control and are also known as voluntary muscles. Smooth muscles, on the other hand, are located in various internal structures, including the digestive tract, uterus, and blood vessels. They help with functions like focusing our vision, moving food through the digestive system, and going to the bathroom. These movements happen without our conscious awareness, so smooth muscles are also called involuntary muscles. The heart is a hard-working muscle and the only organ in the body that is also a muscle. Cardiac muscle is specific to the heart and contracts and relaxes without our conscious awareness.
To keep our muscles healthy, it is important to engage in physical activity. This can include walking, jogging, playing sports, dancing, swimming, and biking. Such activities help to exercise our muscles and keep us strong, safe, and healthy. However, it is important to be mindful of potential muscle strains or tendon injuries, which can cause pain and swelling. If you suspect an injury, it is recommended to rest, apply ice, and consult a healthcare provider if the issue persists.
Muscles play a crucial role in our overall health and well-being, and maintaining their health is essential for our ability to work, play, and perform daily activities without experiencing fatigue or injury.
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Frequently asked questions
A muscle is a type of soft tissue in the body made up of thousands of elastic fibres bundled tightly together.
There are three main types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
Muscles have a range of functions, including pumping blood, supporting movement, lifting heavy weights, and giving birth. They also help with posture, joint stability, and heat production.
There are more than 600 muscles in the human body.
Voluntary muscles, such as skeletal muscles, are under our conscious control. Involuntary muscles, such as smooth muscles, move without our conscious awareness.
