The Muscular System  Important key words:

 Muscles - from the Latin word mus, meaning “little o cardiac, striated, and involuntary.
mouse.”  cardiac cells - cushioned by small amounts of soft
 Contraction/shortening— essential function of muscle connective tissue (endomysium) and arranged in spiral
- muscles are responsible for essentially all body or figure 8–shaped bundles
movement and can be viewed as the “machines” of  intercalated discs - Cardiac muscle fibers are branching
the body cells joined by special junctions
MUSCLE TYPES MUSCLE FUNCTIONS
 skeletal, cardiac, and smooth  Producing movement - common function of all muscle
Similarities types
 muscle fibers - skeletal and smooth muscle cells are  but skeletal muscle plays three other important roles
elongated o maintains posture
 ability of muscle to shorten, or contract, depends on o stabilizes joints
two types of myofilaments o generates heat
 terminology - prefixes myo- and mys- (“muscle”) and 1. Producing Movement
sarco- (“flesh”)  all movements of the human body result from muscle
o e.g. muscle cells the cytoplasm is called contraction
sarcoplasm  Skeletal muscles - are responsible for mobility
SKELETAL MUSCLE including all locomotion and manipulating things with
 Skeletal muscle fibers - packaged into the organs your agile upper limb
called skeletal muscles that attach to the body’s 2. Maintaining Posture and Body Position
skeleton  maintain an erect or seated posture despite the never-
 cover our bony “underpinnings,”they help form the ending downward pull of gravity
much smoother contours of the body 3. Stabilizing Joints
 largest of the muscle fiber types  muscle tendons - important in reinforcing and
 also known as striated muscle and as voluntary muscle stabilizing joints that have poorly fitting articulating
o striated - because its fibers have obvious surfaces
stripes 4. Generating Heat
o voluntary - because it is the only muscle type  Body heat- generated as a by-product of muscle
subject to conscious control) activity
 endomysium - Each muscle fiber is enclosed in a  ATP - used to power muscle contraction
delicate connective tissue sheath called o three-quarters of its energy escapes as heat
 perimysium - Several sheathed muscle fibers are then o this heat vital in maintaining normal body
wrapped by a coarser fibrous membrane called temperature
perimysium to form a bundle of fibers called a fascicle 5. Additional Functions
 epimysium - Many fascicles are bound together by an  Skeletal muscles - protect fragile internal organs by
even tougher “overcoat” of connective tissue called enclosure
o covers the entire muscle  Smooth muscles - form valves to regulate the passage
 epimysia blend either into strong, cordlike tendons or of substances through internal body openings
into sheetlike aponeuroses, which attach muscles o dilate and constrict the pupils of our eyes
indirectly to bones, cartilages, or connective tissue o activate the arrector pili muscles that cause
coverings our hairs to stand on end
SMOOTH MUSCLE Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
 has no striations and is involuntary  sarcolemma - oval nuclei can be seen just beneath the
 best describe using these terms: plasma membrane
o visceral, nonstriated, involuntary.  myofibrils - long ribbonlike organelles
 spindle-shaped o push nuclei aside
 single nucleus o nearly fill the cytoplasm
 surrounded by scant endomysium o Alternating light (I) and dark (A) bands - striped
 “housekeeping” activities – appearance
o Moving food through the digestive tract  Z disc - light I band has a midline interruption, a darker
o emptying the bowels and bladder area
CARDIAC MUSCLE  H zone - dark A band has a lighter central area
 found in only one place in the body—the heart, where  M line- center of the H zone contains tiny protein rods
it forms the bulk of the heart walls that hold adjacent thick filaments together
 Sarcomeres - myofibrils are actually chains of tiny Mechanism of Muscle Contraction: The Sliding Filament
contractile units Theory
 arrangement of the myofilaments leads to the banding
pattern Contraction of a Skeletal Muscle as a Whole
 two types of threadlike protein Graded Responses
o myofilaments - within each of our “boxcar”  “all-or-none”- law of muscle physiology applies to the
sarcomeres muscle cell, not to the whole muscle
o thick filaments - also called myosin filaments, o states that a muscle cell will contract to its
are made mostly of bundled molecules of the fullest extent when it is stimulated adequately
protein myosin, but they also contain ATPase o never partially contracts
enzymes (split ATP to generate the power for o graded muscle contractions can be produced
muscle contraction, two ways:
 cross bridges - projections, or myosin head  changing the frequency of muscle
 thin filaments - composed of the contractile protein stimulation
called actin plus some regulatory proteins that play a  changing the number of muscle cells
role in allowing binding of myosin heads to actin being stimulated at one time
o also called actin filament Muscle Response to Increasingly Rapid Stimulation
 sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) - specialized smooth  muscle twitches - single, brief, jerky contractions
endoplasmic reticulum o muscle contracts and relaxes
o store calcium and to release it on demand  Summing of contractions - stimuli are delivered more
when the muscle fiber is stimulated to contract frequently, so the muscle does not have time to
o calcium provides the final “go” signal for completely relax
contraction  fused, or complete tetanus - the muscle is stimulated
SKELETAL MUSCLE ACTIVITY so rapidly that no evidence of relaxation is seen and
Stimulation and Contraction of Single Skeletal Muscle the contractions are completely smooth and sustained
Cells  unfused, or incomplete tetanus - more complete
 irritability/responsiveness - ability to receive and fusion of the twitches (unfused tetanus) occurs as
respond to a stimulus stimuli are delivered at a still faster rate
 contractility - ability to shorten (forcibly) when Muscle Response to Stronger Stimuli
adequately stimulated  Tetanus - produces stronger (more forceful) muscle
 Extensibility - ability of muscle cells to be stretched contractions, but its primary role is to produce smooth
 Elasticity - ability to recoil and resume their resting and prolonged muscle contractions
length after being stretched Providing Energy for Muscle Contraction
The Nerve Stimulus and the Action Potential  ATP - only energy source that can be used directly to
 motor unit - One neuron and all the skeletal muscle power muscle activity
cells it stimulates ATP regeneration
 nerve fiber or axon - long, threadlike extension of the  Direct phosphorylation of ADP by creatine phosphate
neuron o creatine phosphate - unique high-energy
 axon terminals - forms junctions with the sarcolemma molecule is found in muscle fibers but not
of a different muscle cell other cell types
 neuromuscular junctions - nerve-muscle, junctions  Aerobic respiration
produced by axon terminals o 95 percent of the ATP used for muscle activity
o contain vesicles filled with a chemical referred o occurs in the mitochondria and involves a
to as a neurotransmitter series of metabolic pathways that use oxygen
 acetylcholine or Ach - specific neurotransmitter that o oxidative phosphorylation. – pathways
stimulates skeletal muscle cells  Anaerobic glycolysis and lactic acid formation
 synaptic cleft – gap between nerve endings and the o Glycolysis - initial steps of glucose breakdown
muscle cells’ membranes occur via a pathway
o with tissue (interstitial) fluid  does not use oxygen and hence is
 depolarization – event in which imbalance gives the anaerobic
cell interior an excess of positive ions, which reverses o anaerobic glycolysis - overall process
the electrical conditions of the sarcolemma Muscle Fatigue and Oxygen Deficit
 action potential - “upset” generates an electrical  muscle fatigue – result when we exercise our muscles
current strenuously for a long
 o unable to contract even though it is still being 3. All skeletal muscles have at least two attachments:
stimulated the origin and the insertion.
 oxygen deficit - occurs during prolonged muscle 4. Skeletal muscles can only pull; they never push.
activity 5. During contraction, a skeletal muscle insertion
o not a total lack of oxygen moves toward the origin.
o person is not able to take in oxygen fast Types of Body Movements
enough to keep the muscles supplied with all  Flexion – generally in the sagittal plane, that decreases
the oxygen they need when they are working the angle of the joint and brings two bones closer
vigorously together
Types of Muscle Contractions—Isotonic and Isometric  Extension - opposite of flexion, so it is a movement
 tension - develops in the muscle as the actin and that increases the angle, or the distance, between two
myosin myofilaments interact and the myosin cross bones or parts of the body
bridges attempt to slide the thin actin-containing o hyperextension - greater than 180°
filaments past the thick myosin myofilaments  Rotation - movement of a bone around its longitudinal
 Isotonic contractions - “same tone” or tension axis
o myofilaments are successful in their sliding o ball-andsocket joints
movements, the muscle shortens  Abduction - moving a limb away from the midline, or
 isometric contractions - same measurement” or length median plane, of the body
o Contractions in which the muscles do not  Adduction - opposite of abduction, so it is the
shorten movement of a limb toward the body midline
Muscle Tone  Circumduction - combination of flexion, extension,
 Their contraction is not visible, but, as a result of it, the abduction, and adduction
muscle remains firm, healthy, and constantly ready for o ball-and-socket joints such as the shoulder
action Special Movements
 state of continuous partial contractions  Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion - Up-anddown
 result of different motor units, which are scattered movements of the foot at the ankle
through the muscle, being stimulated by the nervous o Dorsiflexion - Lifting the foot so that its
system in a systematic way superior surface approaches the shin
Homeostatic Imbalance o plantar flexion - depressing the foot
 Flaccid - soft and flabby  Inversion and eversion - special movements of the foot
 Atrophy - waste away o Inversion - turn the sole medially
Effect of Exercise on Muscles o eversion - turn the sole laterally
 Aerobic, or endurance  Supination and pronation - refer to movements of the
o types of exercise, such as participating in an radius around the ulna
aerobics class, jogging, or biking o Supination - “turning backward”
o stronger, more flexible muscles with greater o Pronation - “turning forward”
resistance to fatigue  Opposition – saddle joint between metacarpal 1 and
o hypertrophies - heart enlarges so that more the carpals allows opposition of the thumb
blood is pumped out with each beat INTERACTIONS OF SKELETAL MUSCLES IN THE BODY
 isometric exercise/resistance  prime mover- The muscle that has the major
o which pit the muscles against some immovable responsibility for causing a particular movement
object  antagonist - Muscles that oppose or reverse a
Muscle Movements, Types, and Names movement
Types of Body Movements  Synergists- help prime movers by producing the same
 Origin - attached to the immovable or less movable movement or by reducing undesirable movements
bone o syn = together, erg = work
 Insertion - attached to the movable bone, and when  Fixators - specialized synergists
the muscle contracts, the insertion moves toward the o hold a bone still or stabilize the origin of a
origin prime mover so all the tension can be used to
The Five Golden Rules of Skeletal Muscle Activity move the insertion bone
1. With a few exceptions, all skeletal muscles cross at Naming Skeletal Muscles
least one joint. Direction of the muscle fibers
2. Typically, the bulk of a skeletal muscle lies proximal  rectus – straight, fibers run parallel to that imaginary
to the joint crossed. line
 oblique - muscle fibers run obliquely (at a slant) to the  cephalic/caudal direction - s can raise their heads
imaginary line before they can sit up
Relative size of the muscle  proximal/distal direction - babies can perform the
 maximus – largest gross movements like waving “bye-bye”
 minimus – smallest Homeostatic imbalance
 longus – long  myasthenia gravis - One rare disease that can affect
Location of the muscle muscles during adulthood
 Some muscles are named for the bone with which they o asthen = weakness; gravi = heavy
are associated o drooping of the upper eyelids, difficulty in
Number of origins swallowing and talking, and generalized muscle
 Biceps- two origins weakness and fatigability
 Triceps- three origins  respiratory failure - Death usually occurs as a result of
 Quadriceps- four origins the inability of the respiratory muscles to function
Location of the muscle’s origin and insertion
 muscles are named for their attachment sites strength decreases by about 50 percent by the age of 80
Shape of the muscle
 distinctive shape that helps to identify them
Action of the muscle
 flexor, extensor, and adductor
Arrangement of Fascicles
 circular - fascicles are arranged in concentric rings
o sphincters - general term for such muscles
“squeezers”
 convergent - fascicles converge toward a single
insertion tendon
o triangular or fan-shaped
 parallel - length of the fascicles run parallel to the
long axis of the muscle
o straplike
o fusiform - modification of the parallel
arrangement. Results in a spindle-shaped
muscle with an expanded belly
 pennate - “feather”, short fascicles attach obliquely to
a central tendon
o unipennate - fascicles insert into only one side
of the tendon
o bipennate - fascicles insert into opposite sides
of the tendon or from several different sides
(multipennate)
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM
In the developing embryo
 muscular system is laid down in segments and then
each segment is invaded by nerves
 muscles and their control by the nervous system
develop rather early in pregnancy
 mother is often astonished by the first movements
(called the quickening) of the fetus, which usually occur
by the 16th week of pregnancy
Homeostatic imbalance
 muscular dystrophy - group of inherited muscle-
destroying diseases that affect specific muscle group
 Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy - expressed almost
exclusively in boys
After birth
Head and Neck Muscles  anterior thorax muscles, which move the ribs, head,
Facial Muscles and arms
 Frontalis - covers the frontal bone, runs from the  muscles of the abdominal wall
cranial aponeurosis to the skin of the eyebrows, where o help to move the vertebral column
it inserts o form the muscular “natural girdle”
o llows you to raise your eyebrows Anterior Muscles
o wrinkle your forehead  Pectoralis Major - inserts on the proximal end of the
o occipitalis – small posterior end of the cranial humerus
aponeurosis  Intercostal Muscles -
o covers the posterior aspect of the skull and
pulls the scalp posteriorly
 Orbicularis Oculi - has fibers that run in circles around
the eyes
o allows you to close your eyes, squint, blink, and
wink
 Orbicularis Oris - circular muscle of the lips.
o often called the “kissing” muscle
 closes the mouth and protrudes the
lips
 Buccinator - runs horizontally across the cheek and
inserts into the orbicularis oris
o flattens the cheek
o chewing muscle - it compresses the cheek to
hold the food between the teeth during
chewing
 Zygomaticus - extends from the corner of the mouth to
the cheekbone
o “smiling” muscle - raises the corners of the
mouth upward
Chewing Muscles
 Masseter - covers the angle of the lower jaw
o closes the jaw by elevating the mandible
 Temporalis - fan-shaped muscle overlying the temporal
bone
o inserts into the mandible and acts as a
synergist of the masseter in closing the jaw
Neck Muscles
 Platysma - single sheetlike muscle that covers the
anterolateral neck
o pull the corners of the mouth inferiorly,
producing a downward sag of the mouth (“sad
clown” face)
 Sternocleidomastoid - When both sternocleidomastoid
muscles contract together, they flex your neck
(“prayer” muscles)
o if just one muscle contractsm, head is rotated
toward the shoulder on the opposite side and
tilts the head to its own side
Homeostatic Imbalance
 torticollis/wryneck – In some difficult births, one of the
sternocleidomastoid muscles may be injured and
develop spasms
Trunk Muscles
 those that move the vertebral column