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The human body is made up of over 600 muscles, which are groups of cells that contract and relax to enable movement. These muscles are attached to the bones of the skeletal system and make up around half of a person's body weight. Each muscle is a discrete organ constructed of skeletal muscle tissue, blood vessels, tendons, and nerves. Muscle tissue is also found inside the heart, digestive organs, and blood vessels. There are three types of muscle tissue: visceral, cardiac, and skeletal. Visceral muscle is the weakest type and is found inside organs like the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels. Cardiac muscle is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body and cannot be consciously controlled. Skeletal muscle, on the other hand, is controlled by the somatic or voluntary nervous system, allowing for conscious movement. Understanding the intricate network of muscles and their functions is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the human body | More than 600 |
| Muscle tissue types | Visceral, cardiac, and skeletal |
| Connective tissue encasing the muscles | Fascia |
| Muscle fibres | Thousands of small fibres woven together |
| Voluntary movements | Actions controlled by the individual |
| Involuntary movements | Actions controlled by the autonomic nervous system |
| Types of involuntary movements | Breathing, speaking, swallowing, digesting food, getting rid of waste, pumping blood, giving birth |
| Brachialis muscle lies beneath | Biceps muscle |
| Triceps muscle | Only muscle in the back of the arm |
| Deltoid muscle | Large muscle on the outside of the shoulder |
| Palmar interossei | Pull fingers together |
| Thenar muscle group | Base of the thumb |
| Submuscular implant placement | Underneath skin, fat, glands, and pectoralis major muscle |
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What You'll Learn
The role of fascia
The body's fascia is a mechano-metabolic structure that contains connective tissue, which permeates all organs, muscles, bones, and nerve fibres. It is a multi-layered structure, with four main layers: superficial, deep, visceral, and parietal. Fascia is one of the richest sensory organs in the body, embedded with nerve endings and mechanoreceptors.
The fascia has a ubiquitous distribution in the body system, wrapping and supporting the bloodstream, bone tissue, meningeal tissue, organs, and skeletal muscles. It is slippery and smooth, and it stretches with movement. Fascia plays a major role in the perception of posture and movement, affecting proprioception and coordination. It also helps to lessen friction and ease muscle tension.
The fascial structure is able to transmit the produced force and store mechanical energy. It is made up of fibroblasts, which are aware of the functional state of those close by, ensuring fascial and mechanical continuity. Telocytes are another type of cell found in the connective tissue, forming a network in the fascial network. They can influence the metabolic environment and play a role in repair and remodelling.
If the fascia is unhealthy, it can get thicker, stickier, drier, and tighter. This can lead to fascia adhesions, where the fascia dries up and seizes up around the muscles, causing discomfort and making it harder to move. Fascia pain is often mistaken for muscle pain and can create sensitive knots in the muscles, known as trigger points, which can cause pain in other parts of the body.
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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 an organ that primarily controls movement and posture. It constitutes approximately 40% of the total human body weight. It is a specialised tissue that is attached to bones and allows movement. Skeletal muscles and bones together are called the musculoskeletal system or locomotor system. Skeletal muscles are also known as voluntary muscles as they are under conscious control. They are striated muscles, with the tissue appearing striped under a microscope. Skeletal muscle is broadly classified into two fiber types: type I (slow-twitch) and type II (fast-twitch).
Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac muscle or myocardium is an involuntary, striated muscle that forms the contractile walls of the heart. It is found only in the heart and makes up the middle layers of the heart. The cells of cardiac muscle, known as cardiomyocytes, contract on their own intrinsic rhythm without external stimulation.
Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle is non-striated and involuntary. It is present 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. Smooth muscle is also present throughout the gastrointestinal, reproductive, urinary, vascular, and respiratory systems. Smooth muscle is arranged in layered sheets that contract in waves along the length of the structure.
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Voluntary vs involuntary movements
Human movements can be broadly classified into two types: voluntary and involuntary movements. Voluntary movements, also known as intentional movements, are self-generated, willed actions performed as a result of cognitive processes. These are the movements that we consciously control, such as running and dancing, and they are commanded by the motor cortex, a zone of the cerebrum located behind the frontal lobe.
Involuntary movements, on the other hand, are non-intentional and occur without our conscious control. They are produced by a non-intentional, pathological activation anywhere within the final common pathways or two loops: the basal ganglia loop and the cerebellar loop. These movements include reflexes, which are automatic muscle responses to particular stimuli, such as withdrawing your hand after touching something hot. The simplest reflexes do not involve the brain or conscious attention but rather depend on circuits of neurons near the spinal cord.
Voluntary movements are a fundamental component of human functioning, and the capacity for voluntary control is seen as essential to human movement. The mechanisms underlying voluntary movement have long been unclear, but recent neuroscientific tools have identified networks of different brain areas, including the prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, and parietal cortex, that underlie voluntary action.
In contrast, involuntary movements are crucial for maintaining balance and safety. While some involuntary movements are normal and harmless, such as reflexes and yawning, others can be pathological and require treatment due to their harmful influence on a patient's daily life. Involuntary movements can be divided into four major groups: tremor, myoclonus, ballism/chorea, and dystonia/athetosis.
In terms of the muscles themselves, voluntary muscles are the skeletal muscles that attach to bones, such as the muscles in our arms, legs, neck, back, and trunk. We can consciously control these muscles, and their weakness or inability to be controlled can signal health issues. Involuntary muscles, on the other hand, include those involved in automatic internal processes necessary for survival, such as controlling our blood vessels, heart, lungs, and digestive system. The heart muscle, or myocardium, is a unique type of involuntary muscle composed of cardiac muscle cells that contract automatically and rhythmically.
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Skeletal muscle
The tissue of a skeletal muscle is striated, having a striped appearance due to the arrangement of the sarcomeres. Skeletal muscle contains multiple fascicles, or bundles of muscle fibres. Each muscle fibre is composed of several hundred to several thousand myofibrils, which are composed of actin and myosin filaments called myofilaments. The arrangement of actin and myosin gives skeletal muscle its microscopic striated appearance and creates functional units called sarcomeres. These sarcomeres are the basic functional, contractile units of the muscle fibre necessary for muscle contraction.
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Muscle injuries and soreness
Muscle soreness is a common occurrence, especially after physical activity or exercise. This soreness can be acute, occurring right after a workout, or delayed, setting in a day or two later. It can also be caused by inactivity or sitting for long periods. Soreness is typically characterized by a dull, aching pain and can be accompanied by stiffness. This is different from a muscle injury, which tends to cause sharp, intense pain that is localized to the site of the injury.
There are several types of muscle injuries that can occur. One of the most common is a muscle strain, which happens when the muscle fibres are stretched or torn. This can be caused by overuse, repetitive motions, or improper stretching. Muscle strains can also be the result of traumatic injuries, such as accidents or sports injuries. In some cases, muscle pain may be due to underlying conditions such as infections or reactions to medications.
It is important to know how to differentiate between muscle soreness and an injury. According to Dr. Scott Rand, a sports medicine doctor, soreness typically occurs in muscles that are heavily used and tends to go away on its own. On the other hand, pain that affects your mobility or strength and doesn't go away warrants evaluation by a doctor. If you are experiencing redness, bruising, or swelling, it could be a sign of a more serious injury.
If you are experiencing muscle soreness, there are several self-care treatments you can try. Rest is crucial, as it allows the small tears in the muscle fibres to heal. Gentle stretching can also help prevent stiffness and improve recovery. Massage is another effective way to relieve tension and improve blood flow to sore muscles. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as NSAIDs (aspirin and ibuprofen), can help reduce inflammation and manage pain. For recent injuries or acute pain, cold therapy can be beneficial in reducing swelling and inflammation.
In summary, muscle soreness and injuries are common occurrences, especially with physical activity. It is important to be able to distinguish between the two and seek medical attention when necessary. While soreness can often be managed with self-care treatments, injuries may require evaluation and treatment by a sports medicine doctor or orthopedic surgeon to prevent permanent damage.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle tissue is a group of cells that have the ability to contract and relax. There are three types of muscle tissue: visceral, cardiac, and skeletal.
The brachialis muscle lies beneath the biceps muscle and attaches to the coronoid process of the ulna, just below the elbow joint.
The thenar muscle group is found at the base of the thumb and is comprised of three muscles: the abductor pollicis brevis, the flexor pollicis brevis, and the opponens pollicis. The opponens pollicis is particularly important as it allows the thumb to move away from the fingers so that we can grasp objects.
Fascia is the connective tissue encasing the muscles. When we stretch, it is important to stretch the fascia as well as the muscle. On a molecular level, fascia becomes more liquid when warm and more solid when cooled.
