Muscle Review Guide
Fact Checked On: 4-5-2018 By: Rob Miller
The human body has roughly 700 muscles.
Each one is responsible for a different movement in the body.
However, they all work together to help people walk, talk, gesture, and more.
Muscles make up 50 percent of the body weight of humans, so take a look at why they are so important.
What Are Muscles?
Muscles are tissues in the body that work together to make the body move.
However, there are several different ways in which this is done.
There are three types of muscles – skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
Skeletal muscle is responsible for movement of arms, legs, and all major bones and joints.
Smooth muscle is responsible for internal organs and the digestive system.
And, cardiac muscle is responsible for the heart, which pumps blood throughout the body.
What Are Muscles by Medical News Today
Muscle Composition
Muscle Tissue
What is the strongest muscle in the human body?
Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal muscle is attached to the bones.
It is made up of small units called muscle fascicles that are connected together by tissue called fascia.
This makes skeletal muscle look like several strands of string all lined up next to each other.
As each muscle fascicles contracts, the fascia tissue makes different areas of the body move by applying force to the bones and joints.
Skeletal Muscle
Differential response of skeletal muscles to mTORC1 signaling during atrophy and hypertrophy
Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle does not have the same striated structure as skeletal muscle.
Instead, it has spindle-shaped cells that are connected by a nucleus. It contracts automatically and slowly.
Smooth muscle is responsible for the movement of the digestive system and internal organs.
It is also found inside the blood vessels.
Earth Physiology
Think Qwest Smooth Muscles
Proliferative aspects of airway smooth muscle
Check out my Nitrocut review, a supplement that uses an ingredient called L-Arginine which helps to relax the smooth muscle tissue, allowing for increased blood flow.
Cardiac Muscles
Cardiac muscle serves one purpose – to make the heart contract and pump blood throughout the body.
As a matter of fact, cardiac muscles makes the heart beat about 100,000 times per day.
Cardiac muscles contracts rhythmically and automatically and is essential to life.
The structure of cardiac muscle looks different than both skeletal muscle and smooth muscle.
It is shorter with Y-shaped connections.
InnerBody Cardiac Muscle Tissue
Cardiac Muscle Contractility by Cytokinetics
Molecular beacons light path to cardiac muscle repair
Muscle Functions
Muscles generate force by contracting and pulling.
Their elasticity causes them to elongate and then contract back into place, causing movement in the body.
Muscle fibers take different shapes throughout the body to contract in calculated ways.
Muscles are responsible for producing movement, maintaining posture, stabilizing joints, assisting in blood circulation, and generating heat.
Function of Muscle Tissue (PDF)
Muscle and Muscle Tissue Functions (PDF)
Energy Consumption
People can’t run forever because muscles don’t have unlimited energy.
This energy is called ATP and it is gained from high-energy phosphates that are stored in the body.
People need to eat to replenish these energy sources, and both carbohydrates and proteins are essential to this function.
The body also needs all sorts of other nutrients to produce energy.
Oftentimes, this energy is referred to as calories.
Energy consumption in static muscle contraction
Muscle Contraction: The Energetics
When Does the Body Start to Use Muscle Tissue for Energy?
Energy Sources for Muscular Contraction (PDF)
Resources:
How Muscles Work by Craig C. Freudenrich, Ph.D.
Muscle Twitching by MedlinePlus
Muscle Physiology Types of Contractions
How many muscles are in your face?
Bones and Muscles: An Introduction to Human Anatomy
Superficial Muscles of the Back
The President’s Challenge: Strengthening Muscles & Bones
Muscles that move the lower mandible (the jaw) (PDF)
The Anatomy of Your Leg Muscles
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Rob Miller
Rob Miller founded SupplementCritique.com over 7 years ago, and has been the chief editor ever since. He has a diploma in Advanced Dietary Supplements Advisor, and worked at GNC for 3 years. He KNOWS supplements, both inside and out. Rob currently resides in Jupiter, FL, with his wife of 4 years. Learn more about him in his Bio here. Follow him on Twitter , Facebook, LinkedIn, or find him on Google +. View all posts by Rob Miller
