Logan Steele
The human body is a complex system that involves many muscles working together to perform various functions. One of the most common types of muscles in the human body is skeletal muscle, which is also known as striated muscle. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow us to perform a wide range of movements and functions. These muscles are under voluntary control, meaning an individual can consciously control how and when these muscles work. This is in contrast to involuntary muscles, such as those found in the heart and digestive system, which contract automatically without conscious thought. Neuromuscular disorders or damage to certain nerves can cause weakness or an inability to control voluntary skeletal muscles, highlighting the intricate relationship between the nervous system and muscular control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Skeletal muscles |
| Controlled by | You |
| Controlled through | Nerve signals from the brain |
| Function | Allow you to perform a wide range of movements and functions |
| Composition | Bundled units of fascicles, made up of muscle fibers or muscle cells |
| Location | Throughout the body |
| Weight | 30% to 40% of human body weight |
| Disorders | Neuromuscular disorders, electrolyte imbalance, muscular dystrophies, congenital myopathies, inflammatory disorders, diseases affecting the neuromuscular junction, Myasthenia Gravis, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Multiple sclerosis (MS) |
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What You'll Learn
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles
Skeletal muscles are the most common type of muscle in the body. They are part of the voluntary muscular system and are attached by tendons to the bones of a skeleton. The skeletal muscle cells are much longer than in other types of muscle tissue, and are also known as muscle fibres. The tissue of a skeletal muscle is striated, having a striped appearance due to the arrangement of the sarcomeres.
Skeletal muscles allow you to perform a wide range of movements and functions. They consist of flexible muscle fibres that range from less than half an inch to just over 3 inches in diameter. These fibres contract, allowing the muscles to move bones. Each muscle can contain thousands of fibres.
Nerves move muscles in response to voluntary and autonomic (involuntary) signals from the brain. Deep muscles, superficial muscles, muscles of the face and internal muscles all correspond with dedicated regions in the primary motor cortex of the brain, directly anterior to the central sulcus that divides the frontal and parietal lobes.
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Neuromuscular disorders
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that can be consciously controlled. They make up 30% to 40% of human body weight and are attached to bones, allowing for a wide range of movements and functions. These include the muscles in your neck, arms, and legs.
There are many types of neuromuscular disorders, including genetic myopathies, immune system disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Some neuromuscular disorders are inherited, while others are caused by spontaneous gene mutations. Symptoms of neuromuscular disorders include muscle weakness, twitching, cramps, aches, and pains. These symptoms can lead to a decrease in mobility and quality of life. While there is currently no cure for neuromuscular disorders, treatments such as medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and surgery can help manage symptoms and delay disease progression.
Some specific examples of neuromuscular disorders include:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, which damages the nerves that control voluntary movement.
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a peripheral nerve disorder that causes muscle weakness, atrophy, and loss of sensation, often in the legs and feet.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS), which leads to degeneration of the myelin sheath surrounding nerves, resulting in reduced impulses to muscles and subsequent muscle weakness.
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How nerve cells communicate with muscles
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that can be consciously controlled, such as the muscles in the neck, arms, and legs. They make up 30% to 40% of human body weight and are attached to bones, allowing for a wide range of movements and functions.
Nerve cells communicate with muscles through the release of neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction, the space between a nerve cell and a muscle fibre. Neurotransmitters are small messenger molecules that carry electrical signals from the brain to the muscles. Each neuron may communicate with hundreds of thousands of other neurons.
When the brain sends an electrical signal to a muscle, it is transmitted from a nerve to a muscle through the release of neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the surface of the receiving (postsynaptic) neuron, causing the channels to open, which leads to a depolarization of the part of the membrane closest to the channel. This results in the opening of other ion channels, which may generate an action potential.
Action potentials occur when an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration triggers the release of neurotransmitter molecules into the synaptic cleft. The synaptic cleft is a microscopic gap between neurons where communication typically occurs. The presynaptic neuron releases a neurotransmitter, which binds to a receptor on the postsynaptic neuron.
Disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease can damage the nerves that control voluntary movement, resulting in muscle weakness, atrophy, or pain.
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Examples of muscles you can consciously control
Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that can be consciously controlled. They make up 30% to 40% of human body weight in a healthy person. These muscles are attached to bones and allow us to perform a wide range of movements and functions. Skeletal muscles consist of flexible muscle fibres that contract and allow the muscles to move bones. Each muscle can contain thousands of fibres.
Skeletal muscles are found in the neck, arms, and legs. For example, when you reach for a book on a shelf, you are using skeletal muscles in your neck, arm, and shoulder. The muscles in your arms, such as the biceps and triceps, are also skeletal muscles. Similarly, the muscles in your legs, such as the quadriceps, are skeletal muscles.
Other examples of skeletal muscles include the hamstring muscles and abdominal muscles. These muscles are also under conscious control. The muscles in your back and trunk are also skeletal muscles that you can consciously control.
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Involuntary muscles
In contrast to voluntary muscles, which are skeletal muscles attached to bones, involuntary muscles are primarily involved in automatic internal processes necessary for survival. They control vital functions like maintaining blood circulation, breathing, and digestion. These functions occur without conscious thought, ensuring the body's continuous and uninterrupted operation.
The muscular system, encompassing over 600 muscles, is responsible for body movement, posture maintenance, and blood circulation. It includes skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, and cardiac muscles. Skeletal muscles, which are voluntary, make up 30% to 40% of an individual's body weight and facilitate a wide range of movements. They are attached to bones by tendons and receive signals from the brain to contract, thereby enabling various actions.
While voluntary muscles are consciously controlled, allowing for deliberate actions like scrolling through an article or sprinting, involuntary muscles operate independently, ensuring the body's vital functions persist without interruption. These involuntary muscles, directed by the autonomic nervous system, play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and supporting the body's overall health and survival.
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Frequently asked questions
The brain controls voluntary muscles.
Voluntary muscles are skeletal muscles that attach to bones and can be consciously controlled. These include the muscles in your neck, arms, and legs.
Involuntary muscles include those involved in automatic internal processes needed for survival, such as controlling your blood vessels, heart, lungs, and digestive system.
Voluntary muscles are under conscious control, while involuntary muscles are controlled directly by regions deep within the brain, such as the hypothalamus.
Some disorders that affect voluntary muscles include neuromuscular disorders, electrolyte imbalances, and multiple sclerosis (MS).
