Logan Steele
The human body contains over 600 muscles, which are pieces of soft tissue that help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are responsible for voluntary movement, such as swallowing, and are connected to the bones by tendons. Smooth muscles are found in the walls of internal organs like the heart, and are responsible for involuntary movements such as breathing. Cardiac muscles are also involuntary and are responsible for the heart's pumping action. There are many medical terms related to the muscular system, including paralysis, which is the loss of strength and control of muscles in parts of the body, and antagonist and agonist, which describe muscles that inhibit or cause movement, respectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles in the body | Over 600 |
| Types of muscles | Skeletal, Smooth, Cardiac |
| Skeletal muscle structure | Striated, made up of fibres (long cells) |
| Skeletal muscle function | Voluntary movement, e.g. swallowing |
| Smooth muscle structure | Without banding, short fibres, single cell nuclei |
| Smooth muscle function | Involuntary movement, e.g. breathing |
| Smooth muscle location | Walls of internal organs |
| Cardiac muscle structure | Similar to skeletal muscle |
| Cardiac muscle function | Pumping of blood, gives heartbeat |
| Muscle movement | Voluntary, involuntary |
| Muscle pain | Could be a sign of serious issues, seek medical advice |
| Muscle treatments | RICE method, medication, surgery |
| Muscle specialists | Neurologists, Kinesiologists, Orthopedic Surgeons |
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What You'll Learn
- Skeletal muscles: Move the skeleton, allowing for voluntary movement
- Smooth muscles: Responsible for involuntary movement, like breathing
- Cardiac muscle: Also known as myocardium, it pumps blood and gives the heartbeat
- Muscle contractions: Cause movement of fluids and solids in the body
- Muscle pain: Can be a symptom of serious issues or chronic conditions
Skeletal muscles: Move the skeleton, allowing for voluntary movement
The human body is made up of more than 600 muscles, which help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. Muscles perform two types of movements: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary movements are actions that we control. We use our nervous system to control these movements.
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles, meaning that we control how and when they move and work. They are attached to bones and make up 30% to 40% of our total body mass. Skeletal muscles are found throughout the body and consist of flexible muscle fibres that range from less than half an inch to just over 3 inches in diameter. These fibres usually span the length of the muscle and can contract (shorten or tighten) to allow the muscles to move bones so we can perform a wide range of movements. Skeletal muscles also help to hold the skeleton together, give the body its shape, and help with everyday movements.
Skeletal muscles are also called striated muscles because they are made up of fibres that have horizontal stripes when viewed under a microscope. They contract and relax quickly but tire easily. Skeletal muscles are arranged in opposing pairs at joints, with one muscle tightening while the other extends. For example, the biceps muscle in the front of the upper arm is a flexor, and the triceps at the back is an extensor. When you bend your elbow, the biceps contract, then relax, and the triceps contract to straighten the elbow.
There are nearly 700 skeletal muscles spread all over the body, including the shoulder muscles, hamstring muscles, and abdominal muscles. Skeletal muscles have other functions besides movement, including sustaining body posture and position, maintaining body temperature, storing nutrients, and stabilizing joints.
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Smooth muscles: Responsible for involuntary movement, like breathing
Smooth muscles are involuntary muscles that line the inside of some organs. They are responsible for essential functions such as breathing, digestion, and regulating blood flow. Smooth muscles are found in the walls of various internal organs, including the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels. They contract and relax rhythmically, helping move food through the digestive tract and regulating blood pressure. Smooth muscles also play a crucial role in the respiratory system by aiding the expansion and contraction of the lungs during breathing.
The human body has more than 600 muscles that help with various functions, including movement, breathing, swallowing, and digestion. Muscles can be categorised into three main types: smooth, cardiac, and skeletal muscles. Smooth muscles are distinct from skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones and under voluntary control. Skeletal muscles are the most common type of muscle in the human body, comprising 30% to 40% of total body mass. They are responsible for conscious movements like walking or lifting.
Smooth muscles, on the other hand, are involuntary muscles. They contract and relax without conscious control, regulating vital functions like breathing and digestion. These muscles are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, ensuring seamless and continuous operation. Smooth muscles are essential for breathing as they enable the diaphragm, a skeletal muscle, to contract and relax, facilitating inhalation and exhalation. This coordination between smooth and skeletal muscles ensures efficient breathing.
While smooth muscles are crucial for involuntary movements, certain conditions can affect their function. For example, a myasthenic crisis occurs when the muscles that control breathing weaken, requiring emergency medical care. Additionally, muscle strains are the most common muscle injury, occurring when muscle fibres are stretched beyond their limit. It is important to maintain muscle health through rest, ice application, compression, and elevation to promote healing and prevent injuries.
In summary, smooth muscles play a vital role in involuntary movements, especially breathing. They work seamlessly with skeletal muscles to ensure essential functions like breathing occur without conscious effort. By understanding the unique roles of smooth and skeletal muscles, we can appreciate the complexity of the human body's muscular system and its contribution to our overall health and well-being.
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Cardiac muscle: Also known as myocardium, it pumps blood and gives the heartbeat
The human body is made up of hundreds of muscles that help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. There are three types of muscles in the body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Cardiac muscle, also called myocardium or heart muscle, is an involuntary, striated muscle that constitutes the main tissue of the heart wall.
The myocardium forms a thick middle layer of the heart, sandwiched between the outer layer of the heart wall (the pericardium or epicardium) and the inner layer (the endocardium). It is composed of individual cardiac muscle cells or cardiomyocytes, joined by intercalated discs and encased by collagen fibres and other substances that form the extracellular matrix. The coronary arteries supply blood to the myocardium, and cardiac veins drain this blood.
The primary function of the myocardium is to contract, generating the pressure needed to pump blood through the circulatory system. When the myocardium contracts in a coordinated manner, it allows the ventricle to squeeze in several directions simultaneously – longitudinally (becoming shorter from apex to base), radially (becoming narrower from side to side), and with a twisting motion (similar to wringing out a damp cloth) – to squeeze the maximum possible amount of blood out of the heart with each heartbeat. This process requires a lot of energy and a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients.
The process of contraction is triggered by electrical stimulation in the form of a cardiac action potential, which causes the release of calcium from the cell's internal calcium store, the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The rise in calcium causes the cell's myofilaments to slide past each other in a process called excitation-contraction coupling. The relaxation of the myocardium following contraction is called lusitropy, which is mediated by the SERCA (sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase) pump, allowing calcium to be removed from the cell and returning the myocardium to its relaxed state.
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Muscle contractions: Cause movement of fluids and solids in the body
Muscle contractions are essential for the movement of fluids and solids in the body. There are nearly 700 skeletal muscles in the human body, and they work together to enable movement. For instance, one muscle tightens while the other extends.
Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and provide the body with structure and strength. They are responsible for locomotor activity, and they contract and relax to mechanically move the body. The basic function of all types of muscle is to create movement.
Muscle contractions can be described in terms of two variables: length and tension. Muscle shortening and muscle contraction are not synonymous, as tension within a muscle can be produced without changes in length. For example, when holding a heavy object in the same position, tension is generated without any change in length.
Smooth muscles are responsible for involuntary muscle movement and are present in the walls of hollow organs, like the urinary bladder, uterus, stomach, and intestines. Muscle contractions in these areas cause the movement of fluids and solids in the body.
Cardiac muscles, on the other hand, comprise the walls of the heart, allowing blood to be pumped through the vasculature. The heart muscle also contributes to the movement of fluids in the body.
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Muscle pain: Can be a symptom of serious issues or chronic conditions
Muscle pain, or myalgia, is a common ailment that can usually be treated at home. However, it can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying condition. Myalgia can be localised to a specific muscle group or felt throughout the body. It may feel like a deep, steady ache or sharp, random pains.
Muscle pain is often caused by muscle stress from overuse, including repetitive strain injuries, or traumatic injuries such as accidents or sports injuries. In these cases, the RICE method is recommended for treatment: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Other causes of muscle pain include infections, medication side effects, and chronic muscle diseases (myopathies).
If muscle pain is widespread and long-lasting, it could be a symptom of a serious disease. For example, myasthenia gravis is a condition that causes weakness in the muscles used for breathing, requiring immediate emergency medical care. Paralysis, which occurs when nerve signals to the muscles are disrupted, is another serious condition that can cause muscle pain and atrophy.
It is important to seek medical attention if muscle pain persists for more than a few days or worsens despite rest. Certain conditions, such as spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease, can cause chronic musculoskeletal pain that may require long-term management with treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic adjustment, or cognitive behavioural therapy.
In summary, while muscle pain is often temporary and easily treated at home, it can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious or chronic condition. If muscle pain is persistent, widespread, or accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment or management.
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Frequently asked questions
Skeletal muscles are those that move the skeleton. They are also known as striated muscles and are responsible for voluntary muscle movement, such as swallowing.
Smooth muscles are mainly associated with the walls of internal organs. They are also known as visceral muscles and are responsible for involuntary muscle movement, such as breathing.
Cardiac muscle, also known as myocardium, is responsible for the pumping of blood. It gives the heartbeat.
Striated muscles contain distinct bands and are made up of fibres (long cells). They contract and relax quickly and are attached to the skeleton, helping to move the bones.
A myasthenic crisis occurs when the muscles that control breathing weaken to the point where a person needs a ventilator to breathe. It requires immediate emergency medical care.
