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The muscular system is made up of over 600 muscles that support almost every part of the human body. Muscles work by contracting or relaxing to cause movement, and they can be controlled both voluntarily and involuntarily. The brain, nerves, and skeletal muscles work together to cause movement, and this is known as the neuromuscular system. The skeletal muscles are also part of the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones. Skeletal muscles are composed of muscle cells, called muscle fibres, which are in turn made up of myofibrils. Cardiac muscle, which makes up the middle layers of the heart, is distinct from skeletal muscle as the muscle fibres are laterally connected. Smooth muscle is a type of involuntary muscle that lines the inside of some organs and performs essential jobs like moving waste through the intestines and helping the lungs expand when breathing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the human body | 600-650 |
| Types of movements | Voluntary, involuntary |
| Functions | Breathing, speaking, swallowing, digesting food, getting rid of waste, moving, sitting still, standing up straight, pumping blood, giving birth, storing and releasing energy, producing heat to maintain body temperature |
| Types of muscles | Skeletal, cardiac, smooth |
| Types of muscle tissue | Striated, smooth, cardiac |
| Types of muscle disorders | Myopathy, muscular dystrophy |
| Types of muscle shapes | Spindle, flat |
| Types of muscle systems | Musculoskeletal, neuromuscular |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle movement: voluntary and involuntary
The muscular system is made up of more than 600 muscles that help us do everything from moving our bodies to breathing and even staying alive. They perform two types of movements: voluntary and involuntary.
Voluntary movements are actions that we consciously choose to perform. For example, flicking your thumb to scroll through an article on your phone or sprinting around a track are both voluntary movements. These muscles are under our conscious control and are stimulated by our nervous system. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that attach to bones, such as the muscles in our arms, legs, neck, back, and trunk. They are composed of muscle cells, called muscle fibres, which are in turn composed of myofibrils.
Voluntary movements can be contrasted with involuntary movements, which happen automatically without us thinking about them. The muscles in and around our organs, such as the heart, lungs, and digestive system, move involuntarily to keep our bodies working properly. For example, the heart is an involuntary muscle that beats on its own without our input. Cardiac muscle, or myocardium, makes up the middle layers of the heart and is not found anywhere else in the body. It squeezes and relaxes to pump blood through our cardiovascular system.
Smooth muscles are another type of involuntary muscle that lines the inside of some organs. They perform essential functions such as moving waste through our intestines and helping our lungs expand when we breathe. Smooth muscles play a critical role in many body systems, including the female and male reproductive systems, the urinary system, the respiratory system, and the digestive system. They are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, hormones, and local chemical signals, allowing for gradual and sustained contractions.
Weakness or an inability to control voluntary skeletal muscles can signal potential health issues, such as neuromuscular disorders or electrolyte imbalances. Additionally, certain diseases like muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect the muscular system, causing muscle weakness, atrophy, and degeneration of the myelin sheath surrounding nerves.
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Skeletal muscle
The muscular system is made up of three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. Skeletal muscles are the most common type of muscle in the body, comprising 30% to 40% of total body mass. They are attached to bones by tendons and allow us to perform a wide range of movements and functions.
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Smooth muscle
The shape of smooth muscle is fusiform, round in the centre and tapering at each end. Smooth muscle cells have a distinct structure, with narrow ends, a wider middle, and a shorter length compared to skeletal muscle cells. Smooth muscle is involved in passage width control, such as in the sphincters of the bladder or anus, where it stays flexed and only relaxes when needed.
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Cardiac muscle
The muscular system is made up of muscles that move the body and perform two types of movements: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary movements are actions that we consciously control, such as sprinting or scrolling through an article on a phone. Involuntary movements occur automatically without conscious thought, such as the beating of our hearts.
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Muscle disorders
The muscular system is made up of different types of muscles that work together to move the body and help it perform various functions. There are over 600 muscles located throughout the human body, and they support almost every part of it.
Another group of muscle disorders is muscular dystrophy, which is associated with progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. There are over 30 types of muscular dystrophy, and they can affect a patient's heart, lungs, and ability to move, walk, and perform daily activities. Like other neuromuscular disorders, muscular dystrophy can cause muscle atrophy and wasting away of muscle tissue.
Some other examples of muscle disorders include congenital myopathy, extra-abdominal desmoid tumors, familial periodic paralyses, mitochondrial disorders, rippling muscle disease, STAC3 disorder, tubular aggregate myopathy, and rhabdomyolysis.
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Frequently asked questions
The muscle system, or muscular system, is the group of all the muscles in the body. There are over 600 muscles in the human body, which work by contracting and relaxing to cause movement.
There are three types of muscle tissue in the body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and are under our conscious control, allowing for voluntary movement. Smooth muscles line the inside of some organs and are involuntary. Cardiac muscle is a special type of muscle tissue that makes up the heart and beats without our input.
Muscles have a wide range of functions, including pumping blood, supporting movement, lifting heavy weights, and giving birth. They also help to stabilise joints, such as the knee and shoulder joints. Additionally, muscles produce heat to maintain body temperature, with almost 85% of body heat being generated by muscle contraction.
