Dominic Stone
Muscles are pieces of soft tissue that help the body move, breathe, swallow, pump blood, and stay alive. There are over 600 muscles in the human body, comprising 30% to 40% of total body mass. There are three types of muscles: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that connect to bones and allow movement. Smooth muscles are involuntary and help move substances through the body. The heart is made of cardiac muscle tissue, which is also involuntary.
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Skeletal muscle
Myofibrils are composed of actin and myosin filaments called myofilaments, repeated in units called sarcomeres, which are the basic functional, contractile units of the muscle fibre necessary for muscle contraction. The arrangement of actin and myosin gives skeletal muscle its microscopic striated appearance. Skeletal muscle fibres are multinucleated with the nuclei often referred to as myonuclei. This occurs during myogenesis with the fusion of myoblasts, each contributing a nucleus.
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Cardiac muscle
The human body has more than 600 muscles that help us move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. One such muscle is the cardiac muscle, which is also called the myocardium. It is one of three types of vertebrate muscle tissues, the others being skeletal muscle and smooth muscle. The cardiac muscle forms a thick middle layer of the heart, between the outer layer of the heart wall (the pericardium) and the inner layer (the endocardium).
The cardiac muscle is composed of individual cardiac muscle cells or cardiomyocytes, which are joined by intercalated discs. These discs contain three different types of cell junctions: fascia adherens, desmosomes, and gap junctions. The latter allow for intercellular communication by enabling ions from one cardiomyocyte to move to a neighbouring cell without having to be excreted into the extracellular space first.
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Smooth muscle
One of the key functions of smooth muscle is its ability to contract and relax. It has greater elastic properties than striated muscle and plays a vital role in regulating blood pressure and tissue oxygenation in arteries and veins. Smooth muscle can also be found within the walls of blood vessels, specifically in the tunica media layer of large and small arteries. This type of smooth muscle is called vascular smooth muscle or mural cells, and it is essential for vascular development and stability.
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Muscle groups
The human body is composed of more than 600 muscles. Muscles are pieces of soft tissue that help the body move, breathe, swallow, and stay alive. They are the only tissue in the body that has the ability to contract and move other body parts.
There are three types of muscles in the body: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that connect to bones and allow the body to perform a wide range of movements and functions. They make up about 30% to 40% of the body's total mass. Skeletal muscles are used for locomotion and achieving complex moves such as those in martial arts. The pectorals or pecs are the large chest muscles that provide support when holding objects in front of the body.
Cardiac and smooth muscles are involuntary muscles controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The heart is made of a special type of muscle tissue called cardiac muscle. Smooth muscle tissue lines some organs and is found within the walls of blood vessels.
Fitness trainers and physical therapists often refer to specific muscle groups, usually defined by their location or the type of movement they perform. The glutes, located in the buttocks, are the largest muscles in the body and are key to the movement of the legs backward and sideways. The quadriceps or 'quads' are the second-largest muscle group, located in the upper front part of the leg. The calves, located in the lower back part of the legs, are important for walking, running, and climbing stairs.
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Muscle disorders
Neuromuscular disorders affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles and the nerves that communicate sensory information back to the brain. When nerve cells (neurons) become unhealthy or die, communication between the nervous system and muscles breaks down, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. Some common neuromuscular disorders include muscular dystrophy, congenital myopathy, and extra-abdominal desmoid tumors. Muscular dystrophy causes weakness and the wasting away of muscle tissue, eventually leading to a loss of strength. It is inherited from parents, and there is currently no cure.
Other muscle disorders include rippling muscle disease, STAC3 disorder, and tubular aggregate myopathy. In some cases, the cause of muscle disorders is unknown, and diagnostic tests such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies may be required. Treatment options for muscle disorders include medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and, in some cases, surgery. It is important to seek medical advice and not ignore chronic muscle soreness or weakness.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscles are pieces of soft tissue that help the body to move, breathe, swallow and stay alive. There are over 600 muscles in the human body, making up around 30-40% of our body mass.
There are three types of muscles in the body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow for a wide range of movements. Smooth muscles are found in the digestive tract, uterus, and blood vessels. Cardiac muscles are specific to the heart and are responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.
Muscle tissue is what gives skeletal muscles the ability to contract. There are three types of muscle tissue in vertebrates: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscle tissue is striated, consisting of elongated muscle fibres. Smooth muscle tissue is non-striated and involuntary, meaning it contracts without conscious intervention. Cardiac muscle tissue is also striated and involuntary.
