THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM Human movement is dependent upon the integrated activity of many different systems, however, the driving force behind this is the muscular system. This section will explore and discuss the microscopic structure of muscle which enables muscles to generate force. TYPES OF MUSCLE TISSUE Smooth muscle is the most widely distributed and it predominates in the internal tissues of the body, including the digestive, circulatory, urinary and reproductive systems. One of its major functions is to regulate the diameter of tubular structures, thus enabling the body to regulate blood flow and blood pressure, the passage of food down the digestive tract and even the amount of light entering the eye. Control of this form of muscle is involuntary and is exerted via the autonomic system. Cardiac muscle (myocardium) is found only in the heart, but like smooth muscle is also under involuntary control. The unique feature of cardiac muscle is that it possesses the capability of self excitation. In other words, it will continue to contract even if completely separated from the rest of the body (for a short time at least). The autonomic system exerts some control over cardiac muscle by both increasing or decreasing heart rate and the strength of contractions. This is examined more closely in the cardiovascular chapter. Skeletal muscles are attached from bone-to-bone across joints, and are the main focus of this chapter. Unlike cardiac and smooth muscle, skeletal muscle is predominantly under voluntary control via the somatic nervous system. Skeletal muscle has a number of functions such as: producing movement stabilising body positions i.e. maintenance of posture facilitating the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid generating heat The anatomy of skeletal muscle In order to understand how muscles generate force it is necessary to review the basic anatomy of a muscle. In simple terms, skeletal muscle is made up of a number of rod-like structures called muscle fibres, and these fibres run parallel along its length. Closer examination of muscle will reveal that each series of fibres are themselves constructed from smaller parallel fibres and so on. Surrounding and protecting muscles are a series of collagen based membranes, the outer most of which covers the whole muscle and is called the epimysium (epi - meaning 'upon'). Within the epimysium are groups of muscle fibres formed into bundles called fascicles.

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
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THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM
Human movement is dependent upon the integrated activity of many different systems, however, the driving
force behind this is the muscular system. This section will explore and discuss the microscopic structure of
muscle which enables muscles to generate force.
TYPES OF MUSCLE TISSUE
Smooth muscle is the most widely distributed and it predominates in the internal tissues of the body,
including the digestive, circulatory, urinary and reproductive systems. One of its major functions is to regulate
the diameter of tubular structures, thus enabling the body to regulate blood flow and blood pressure, the
passage of food down the digestive tract and even the amount of light entering the eye. Control of this form
of muscle is involuntary and is exerted via the autonomic system.
Cardiac muscle (myocardium) is found only in the heart, but like smooth muscle is also under involuntary
control. The unique feature of cardiac muscle is that it possesses the capability of self excitation. In other
words, it will continue to contract even if completely separated from the rest of the body (for a short time at
least). The autonomic system exerts some control over cardiac muscle by both increasing or decreasing
heart rate and the strength of contractions. This is examined more closely in the cardiovascular chapter.
Skeletal muscles are attached from bone-to-bone across joints, and are the main focus of this chapter.
Unlike cardiac and smooth muscle, skeletal muscle is predominantly under voluntary control via the somatic
nervous system. Skeletal muscle has a number of functions such as:
producing movement
stabilising body positions i.e. maintenance of posture
facilitating the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid
generating heat
The anatomy of skeletal muscle
In order to understand how muscles generate force it is necessary to review the basic anatomy of a muscle.
In simple terms, skeletal muscle is made up of a number of rod-like structures called muscle fibres, and these
fibres run parallel along its length. Closer examination of muscle will reveal that each series of fibres are
themselves constructed from smaller parallel fibres and so on.
Surrounding and protecting muscles are a series of collagen based membranes, the outer most of which
covers the whole muscle and is called the epimysium (epi - meaning 'upon'). Within the epimysium are
groups of muscle fibres formed into bundles called fascicles.
Transcribed Image Text:THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM Human movement is dependent upon the integrated activity of many different systems, however, the driving force behind this is the muscular system. This section will explore and discuss the microscopic structure of muscle which enables muscles to generate force. TYPES OF MUSCLE TISSUE Smooth muscle is the most widely distributed and it predominates in the internal tissues of the body, including the digestive, circulatory, urinary and reproductive systems. One of its major functions is to regulate the diameter of tubular structures, thus enabling the body to regulate blood flow and blood pressure, the passage of food down the digestive tract and even the amount of light entering the eye. Control of this form of muscle is involuntary and is exerted via the autonomic system. Cardiac muscle (myocardium) is found only in the heart, but like smooth muscle is also under involuntary control. The unique feature of cardiac muscle is that it possesses the capability of self excitation. In other words, it will continue to contract even if completely separated from the rest of the body (for a short time at least). The autonomic system exerts some control over cardiac muscle by both increasing or decreasing heart rate and the strength of contractions. This is examined more closely in the cardiovascular chapter. Skeletal muscles are attached from bone-to-bone across joints, and are the main focus of this chapter. Unlike cardiac and smooth muscle, skeletal muscle is predominantly under voluntary control via the somatic nervous system. Skeletal muscle has a number of functions such as: producing movement stabilising body positions i.e. maintenance of posture facilitating the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid generating heat The anatomy of skeletal muscle In order to understand how muscles generate force it is necessary to review the basic anatomy of a muscle. In simple terms, skeletal muscle is made up of a number of rod-like structures called muscle fibres, and these fibres run parallel along its length. Closer examination of muscle will reveal that each series of fibres are themselves constructed from smaller parallel fibres and so on. Surrounding and protecting muscles are a series of collagen based membranes, the outer most of which covers the whole muscle and is called the epimysium (epi - meaning 'upon'). Within the epimysium are groups of muscle fibres formed into bundles called fascicles.
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