VASANT VIHAR HIGH SCHOOL & JR.

COLLEGE
GRADE: - IX
SUBJECT: - HEALTH PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS

2. MUSCULAR SYSTEM
The muscular system consists of a large number of muscles through which the
movements of the body take place. The muscles are attached to the bones. It
permits movement of the body, maintains posture, and circulates blood
throughout the body. Together with the skeletal system it forms the muscular
skeletal system, which is responsible for movement of the human body.

Muscles
There are more than 650 muscles in human body. The muscle fibers are responsible
for all body movements. They form a covering over the skeleton. There are two
ends in each muscle, one fixed and the other flexible. When muscles contract, they
become shorter and thicker and when they relax, they come to their original length.

Types of Muscles
1) The voluntary muscles: (Skeletal muscles or striated muscle): The voluntary
muscles are under the control of our will. They surround the bones and help
the bones to move at the joints. The muscles of arms, legs and shoulder are
the voluntary muscles. There are about 600 voluntary muscles in the body.
These muscles need oxygen and food for energy from blood in order to work
properly. If they work hard but do not get enough energy, they may go into
a spasm and you feel the pain of a cramp.
 2) The involuntary muscles: (Smooth or non-striated muscle): The involuntary
muscles are found in the internal organs such as the heart, intestines,
stomach, eyes and blood vessels. Their action is not under our will. These
muscles are less powerful but do not tire and continue their work without
interruption throughout life.
3) The cardiac muscles: The cardiac muscles are found in the walls of heart.
These muscles do not tire and may be striped in appearance. These muscles
have an extremely rich supply of blood and show rhythmic contraction. They
contract automatically to squeeze the walls of heart inward. The heart beats
about 100,000 times each day. It can do this because of the cardiac muscles.

Muscle contraction
Muscle contraction occurs when a muscle fiber is signaled by the brain via
nerves to activate and increase the tension within the muscle. This occurs when
the muscles are stressed, such as during exercise like weight training.
Types of muscle contractions
1) Isotonic muscle contraction: Isotonic means some tension. In an isotonic
contraction, tension develops to a point and then remains constant while the
muscle changes its length. We utilize the isotonic contraction when we move
our limbs.
2) Isometric muscle contraction: In an isometric muscle contraction, the
muscle fibers activate with a force and tension but there is no movement at
a joint. There is no contraction of the muscle fibers and the limbs do not
move.

Muscles of the body:

1) Deltoid muscle: The deltoid muscle is a rounded, triangular muscle located
on the uppermost part of the arm and the top of the shoulder. The deltoid
is responsible for elevating the arm in the scapular plane and its contraction
in doing this also elevates the humeral head.
2) Rotator cuff: The rotator cuff is a common name for the group of four
distinct muscles. The four muscles are the supraspinatus muscle, the
infraspinatus muscle, teres minor muscle, and the subscapular is muscle.
These muscles arise from the scapula and connect to the head of the
humerus, forming a cuff at the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff muscles are
important in shoulder movements and in maintaining shoulder joint
stability.
3) Pectoral muscles: Pectoral muscles are the muscles that connect the front
of the human chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder. Deep
muscles of chest, including pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, and
subclavius. The pectoral muscles are responsible for movement of the
shoulder joint. It serves to stabilize the scapula
4) Bicep’s muscle: The biceps is a two-headed muscle that lies on the upper
arm between the shoulder and the elbow. The biceps is attached to the arm
bones by tough connective tissues called tendons. The biceps muscles help
to control the motion of two different joints, the shoulder and the elbow. Its
main function is at the elbow where it flexes the forearm and supinates the
forearm.
5) Triceps muscle: The triceps muscle is a large muscle on the back of the upper
limb. It is the muscle principally responsible for extension of the elbow joint.
It helps to stabilize the shoulder joint at the top of the humerus.
6) Latissimus dorsi muscle: The latissimus dorsi is a large, flat muscle on the
back that stretches to the sides, behind the arm. It is responsible for
extension, adduction, flexion from an extended position, and internal
rotation of the shoulder joint.
7) Abdominals: The abdominal muscles are located between the ribs and the
pelvis on the front of the body. It supports the trunk, allow movement and
hold organs in place by regulating internal abdominal pressure. It enables
the tilt of the pelvis and the curvature of the lower spine and assists with
breathing movements.
8) Hip flexors: The hip flexors are several muscles e. g. iliopsoas, rectus
femoris, sartorius, and tensor fasciae late that bring the legs and trunk
together in a flexion movement. They allow the individual to move its leg or
knee up towards his torso and allow him to bend his torso forward at the
hip.
9) Gluteal: The gluteal muscles are a group of three muscles which make up
the buttocks. The gluteus maximus, the gluteus Medius and the gluteus
minimums. The three muscles originate from the ilium and sacrum and
insert on femur. The functions of the muscles include extension, abduction,
and rotation of the hip joint.
 10) Quadriceps group: It is a large muscle group that includes the four
prevailing muscles (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and
vastus intermedius.) on the front of the thigh. It is the great extensor muscle
of the knee, forming a large fleshy mass which covers the front and sides of
the femur. They are crucial in walking, running and jumping.
11) Hamstring group: In human anatomy, a hamstring is one of the three
posterior thigh muscles in between the hip and the knee. The hamstrings
cross and act upon two joints the hip and the knee. The hamstrings play a
crucial role in many daily activities such as walking, running, jumping, and
controlling some movement in the trunk.
12) Tibialis anterior: It originates in the upper two-third of the lateral
(outside) surface of the tibia and inserts into the medical cuneiform and first
metatarsal bones of the foot. It acts to dorsiflex and invert the foot. This
muscle is mostly located near the shin. When the foot is on the ground, the
muscle helps to balance the leg and talus on the other tarsal bones so that
the leg is kept vertical even when walking on uneven ground.
13) Gastrocnemius muscle: It is located on the back portion of the lower
leg, being one of the two major muscles that make up the calf. The other
major calf muscle, the soleus muscle, is a flat muscle that lies underneath
the gastrocnemius. Its function is flexing the foot at the ankle joint and
flexing the leg at the knee joint. The gastrocnemius is primarily involved in
running, jumping and other "fast" movements of leg, and to a lesser degree
in walking and standing.

Benefits of exercise on the muscular system

1) Increase in strength: With regular exercise there is gain in muscular

strength and power. The cells of muscles are enlarged which change the
shape and size of the muscles.

2) Endurance and power: As a result of regular exercise, there is an increase

in number of capillaries in muscle. Due to this there is faster circulation
of the blood. Thus improves the efficiency of muscles.

3) Better neuromuscular co-ordination: Regular exercise enhances

neuromuscular pathways, allowing muscles to contract more quickly and
efficiently.
 4) Improves posture of the body: Regular exercise helps to improve the
personality of the individual.

5) Enhance flexibility: Regular exercise increases muscle size and strength,

protecting bones, joints, and thus the flexibility of the muscles increases.

6) Decreases chances of injury: Regular exercise decreases the chances of

getting injured. It also reduces the risk of heart diseases and diabetes.

7) Lactic acid tolerance: With regular exercise the muscle's capacity

increases and the formation of lactic acid in muscles is delayed.

QUESTIONS:
1) Write a short note on the following:
i)Muscles, ii) Voluntary muscles,
iii) Involuntary muscles, iv) Cardiac muscles.
2) Give the differences between Isometric and Isotonic muscle
contraction.
3) State and explain any three benefits of exercise on the muscular
system.
4) How does regular exercise benefit the endurance and power of the
muscular system?
5) How does regular exercise benefit the lactic acid tolerance?
6) Name the three muscles of gluteal.
7) Name the four muscles of Quadriceps.
8) What is muscle contraction?
9) Explain the following muscles:
i) Latissimus dorsi, ii) Deltoid muscle,
iii) Rotator cuff, iv) Pectorals,
v) Biceps, vi) Triceps,
vii) Abdominals, viii) Hip flexors,
ix) Gluteal, x) Hamstring group,
xi) Quadriceps, xii) Gastrocnemius,
xiii) Tibialis anterior.

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