Dominic Stone
Muscle accrual is the process of building muscle mass in the body. Muscle mass is essential for various bodily functions, including movement, posture, and organ support. There are three types of muscles in the human body: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that attach to bones and enable a wide range of movements. They comprise 30% to 40% of an individual's total body mass and are composed of thousands of small fibers that work together to facilitate movement. Muscle accrual can be influenced by factors such as age, height, and weight, and nutritional intake, as seen in studies focusing on whey protein ingestion and its impact on muscle protein anabolism in the elderly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The action or process of accruing muscle |
| Muscle accrual in elderly persons | Ingestion of whey protein improves skeletal muscle protein accrual |
| Muscle accrual in children | Weight-bearing and muscle loading impact bone mineral accrual |
| Muscle composition | Skeletal muscle is a highly organized tissue composed of bundles of muscle fibers called myofibers |
| Muscle movement | Muscles are made of thousands of small fibers woven together, allowing them to stretch and press together to move the body and its organs |
| Muscle types | There are three types of muscles: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle |
| Number of muscles | There are more than 600 muscles in the human body |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle accrual in elderly persons
Muscle accrual refers to the process of building and increasing muscle mass. Skeletal muscles, which are the muscles that allow us to perform various movements, make up a significant portion of our total body mass. However, it is important to note that muscle mass tends to decrease with age. This loss of muscle mass and strength can lead to a decline in physical functions, such as walking capacity, speed, and balance, which can result in falls and related fractures in elderly individuals.
To counteract the loss of muscle mass and strength associated with aging, various strategies can be employed. One approach is to focus on muscle protein anabolism, which is stimulated by the ingestion of whey protein (WY) and essential amino acids (EAA). Research has shown that in elderly individuals, the ingestion of WY results in greater muscle protein accrual compared to the ingestion of its constituent EAA content. This finding suggests that the formulation of nutritional supplements with WY may be beneficial for enhancing muscle anabolism in older adults.
Additionally, resistance training has been found to be effective in improving muscle strength and reducing muscle loss in elderly individuals. Studies have shown that resistance training, especially when performed at higher intensities, can lead to improvements in muscular strength and neuromuscular performance in older adults. For example, a study on elderly hip surgery patients found that resistance training in the early postoperative phase reduced hospitalization and led to muscle hypertrophy.
Furthermore, vitamin D status has been identified as a predictor of physical performance and muscle strength in older persons. Low vitamin D levels and high parathyroid hormone levels are associated with the loss of muscle strength and mass, also known as sarcopenia. By maintaining adequate vitamin D levels, older individuals may be able to mitigate the decline in physical performance and muscle strength associated with aging.
Overall, muscle accrual in elderly persons can be achieved through a combination of nutritional interventions, such as the ingestion of whey protein, and physical interventions, such as resistance training. By implementing these strategies, older individuals can counteract the natural decline in muscle mass and strength associated with aging, improving their physical performance and overall health.
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Muscle contraction and weight-bearing
Muscle contraction is the tightening, shortening, or lengthening of muscles when you do some activity. It can occur when you hold or pick up something, stretch, or exercise with weights. Muscle contraction is often followed by muscle relaxation, allowing contracted muscles to return to their normal state.
Muscles serve several purposes in the body. They primarily:
- Offer stability to joints and connective tissues
- Produce heat to maintain body temperature
- Maintain posture
Skeletal muscles, which are voluntary muscles, make up 30% to 40% of your total body mass. They are attached to bones by tendons and allow you to perform a wide range of movements.
Weight-bearing refers to the amount of weight or force put through a specific limb. It is often prescribed by medical professionals in the context of surgery or injury recovery. For example, a patient may be advised to adhere to a "reduced weight-bearing status" or "NWB status," indicating that they should avoid putting weight on the affected limb.
Weight-bearing exercises, such as single-leg squats, can be beneficial for knee rehabilitation. These exercises involve the coactivation of hamstring and quadriceps muscles, leading to improved dynamic stability of the knee joint. The accuracy of performance in weight-bearing exercises, such as single-leg squats, can influence muscle activation patterns and synergistic muscle activation.
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Types of muscle: skeletal, cardiac and smooth
Muscle accrual refers to the process of building muscle mass. For example, studies have shown that whey protein ingestion in elderly persons results in greater muscle protein accrual than ingestion of its constituent essential amino acid content.
Now, there are three types of muscles in the human body: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. Each muscle type has unique cellular components, physiology, specific functions, and pathology.
Skeletal muscles are the most common type of muscle in the body, comprising 30% to 40% of total body mass. They are attached to the bones and allow for a wide range of movements and functions. These muscles are voluntary, meaning you control how and when they work. Skeletal muscles are also involved in energy metabolism and storage.
Cardiac muscle, on the other hand, is an involuntary, striated muscle that encloses the chambers of the heart. It is made up of cardiomyocytes, which are similar in structure to skeletal muscle cells. The contraction of cardiac muscle is triggered by calcium binding to troponin in the actin filaments of the cardiomyocyte. This allows for the binding of myosin to actin filaments and subsequent contraction.
Smooth muscle is the third type of muscle tissue. It is located in the walls of hollow visceral organs, such as the liver, pancreas, intestines, lungs, and reproductive organs, but not in the heart. Smooth muscle is also involuntary and is used throughout the body to propel various contents across the lumen of multiple organ systems.
In summary, muscle accrual is the process of building muscle mass, and the human body has three types of muscles: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle, each with distinct characteristics and functions.
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Skeletal muscle functions
Skeletal muscle is the most common type of muscle in the body, comprising around 30% to 40% of total body mass. They are voluntary muscles, meaning an individual can control how and when they move and work. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones via tendons, allowing for a wide range of movements and functions. These muscles are composed of flexible muscle fibres that contract and relax, facilitating bone movement. Each skeletal muscle contains bundles of muscle fibres, known as fascicles, surrounded by connective tissue layers.
Skeletal muscles play a crucial role in various bodily functions. Firstly, they enable movement and facilitate a wide range of physical activities. Secondly, they aid in maintaining body posture, ensuring we remain upright and balanced. Thirdly, skeletal muscles are involved in breathing by expanding and contracting the chest cavity during inhalation and exhalation. Additionally, these muscles help in controlling body temperature, a vital function for homeostasis. Furthermore, skeletal muscles contribute to joint stability, ensuring our joints are secure and reducing the risk of injuries.
The structure of skeletal muscle is intricate and fascinating. Each muscle fibre, or myocyte, contains multiple mitochondria to meet its high energy demands. These fibres are composed of myofibrils, which are made up of actin and myosin filaments, known as myofilaments. These myofilaments form distinct bands on the skeletal muscle, creating a unique striated pattern. The interaction of actin and myosin filaments results in muscle contraction, allowing for movement.
Skeletal muscles are also an important area of research, particularly regarding muscle fibre cells (myocytes) and mononuclear cells. Additionally, the endocrine functions of skeletal muscles have garnered interest. Furthermore, studies have shown that whey protein ingestion in the elderly enhances muscle protein accrual, surpassing the effects of essential amino acid ingestion. This finding has implications for the development of nutritional supplements aimed at improving muscle anabolism in older individuals.
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Muscle protein anabolism
Dietary protein consumption plays a crucial role in muscle protein anabolism. Research has shown that the ingestion of whey protein (WY) can improve skeletal muscle protein accrual. In a study involving elderly individuals, it was found that WY ingestion resulted in greater muscle protein accrual compared to the ingestion of essential amino acids (EAA) alone. This finding highlights the potential benefits of nutritional supplements containing WY for enhancing muscle anabolism in older individuals.
Additionally, the quality and source of dietary protein can also impact muscle protein anabolism. Studies have compared the effects of milk-based and soy-based proteins on muscle protein synthesis and accretion in both young and elderly individuals. The timing of protein intake and the inclusion of specific amino acids, such as leucine, are also important considerations in maximising muscle protein anabolism.
Resistance exercise is another key factor in stimulating muscle protein anabolism. Exercise-induced muscle protein anabolism is enhanced by prior resistance exercise, and the combination of resistance exercise with amino acid ingestion elicits an even greater anabolic response. Interestingly, the intensity of resistance exercise may not be as crucial as previously thought, with lower-intensity high-volume resistance exercises also stimulating a robust muscle protein synthetic response.
Age is an important consideration in muscle protein anabolism. Age-related muscle wasting, known as sarcopenia, is associated with a loss of muscle strength and function. The elderly may require higher quantities of protein to stimulate muscle protein synthesis effectively, and distributing protein intake evenly throughout the day may be beneficial for optimal stimulation of muscle protein anabolism.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle accrual refers to the process of building muscle mass.
Muscle mass refers to the weight and size of the smooth muscle tissue in your body. It includes skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles.
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that you control. They make up 30% to 40% of your total body mass and are responsible for a wide range of movements and functions.
Exercise and good nutrition are key to building muscle mass. Strength training, also known as resistance or weight training, is one of the most effective ways to build muscle mass as it strengthens your muscles by forcing them to work against resistance.
Eating a nutrient-dense, balanced diet is important for gaining and maintaining muscle mass. Protein, in particular, helps build and repair muscles. Whey protein ingestion, for example, has been shown to improve skeletal muscle protein accrual in elderly persons.
