THE MUSCULAR

SYSTEM
There are about 650 muscles in the
human body. They enable us to
move, maintain posture and generate
heat. In this section we will only
study a sample of the major
muscles.
 TRIVIA
 How many muscles are there in the human
Answer:
body? 650 Muscles
 The muscles make up about 40 % of the body mass.
• What is the longest muscle in the body?
Answer: The Sartorius
 The Sartorius runs from the outside of the hip, down and
across to the inside of the knee. It twists and pulls the
thigh outwards.
• What is the smallest muscle in the
Answer:
body? The Stapedius
 The Stapedius is located deep in the ear. It is only 5mm long
and thinner than cotton thread. It is involved in hearing.
• What is the biggest muscle in the body?
Answer: The Gluteus Maximus
 The Gluteus Maximus is located in the buttock. It pulls the
leg backwards powerfully for walking and running.
 Did you know that ?

o Muscle is made up of proteins

and water.

o There are muscles in the root

of your hair that give you
goose bumps

o The hardest working

muscle is in the eye
Functions of the Muscles
• Movement
• Maintenance of posture and
muscle tone
• Heat production
• Protects the bones and internal
organs
 Info About Muscles

• Only body tissue able

to contract
• create movement by
flexing and extending
joints
• Body energy
converters (many
muscle cells contain
many mitochondria)
 Muscle Classification
 Functionally
• Voluntarily – can be moved at will
• Involuntarily – can’t be moved
intentionally
 Structurally
• Striated – have stripes across the
fiber
• Smooth – no striations
 Characteristics of Muscle
• Skeletal and smooth muscle are elongated
• Muscle cell = muscle fiber
• Contraction of a muscle is due to movement
of microfilaments (protein fibers)
• All muscles share some terminology
– Prefixes myo and mys refer to muscle
– Prefix sarco refers to flesh
 Shapes of Muscles

• Triangular- shoulder, neck

• Spindle- arms, legs
• Flat- diaphragm, forehead
• Circular- mouth, anus
Shapes of Muscles
 Three types of muscle

Skeletal Cardiac Smooth

 SKELETAL MUSCLE
• Most are attached by tendons to bones
• Cells have more than one nucleus
(multinucleated)
• Striated- have stripes, banding
• Voluntary- subject to conscious control
• Tendons are mostly made of collagen fibers
• Found in the limbs
• Produce movement, maintain posture, generate
heat, stabilize joints
 Each cell (fibre) is long and cylindrical
 Muscle fibres are multi-nucleated
 Typically 50-60mm in diameter, and up to 10cm
long
 The contractile elements of
skeletal muscle cells are
myofibrils

Structure of skeletal muscle

 Functions of Skeletal Muscle
Movements
• Antagonists – muscles and muscle groups
usually work in pairs
– example the biceps flex your arm and its partner
the triceps extend your arm. The two muscles are
antagonists, i.e. cause opposite actions.

– when one contracts the other relaxes.

• Levators – muscle that raise a body part.

 Skeletal muscle - Summary

• Voluntary movement
of skeletal parts
• Spans joints and
attached to skeleton
• Multi-nucleated,
striated, cylindrical
fibres
 SMOOTH MUSCLE

• No striations

• Spindle shaped
• Single nucleus
• Involuntary no conscious control
• Found mainly in the walls of hollow
organs
SMOOTH MUSCLE
Lines walls of viscera

Found in longitudinal or circular

arrangement

Alternate contraction of circular &

longitudinal muscle in the intestine
leads to peristalsis
Smooth Muscle
 Spindle shaped uni-nucleated cells
 Striations not observed
 Actin and myosin filaments are present( protein
fibers)
 Smooth Muscle
• They fatigue… but very slowly
• Found in the circulatory system
– Lining of the blood vessels
– Helps in the circulation of the blood
• Found in the digestive system
– Esophagus, stomach, intestine
– Controls digestion
• Found in the respiratory system
– Controls breathing
• Found in the urinary system
– Urinary bladder
– Controls urination
 Smooth muscle - Summary
• Found in walls of
hollow internal
organs
• Involuntary
movement of
internal organs
• Elongated, spindle
shaped fibre with
single nucleus
Cardiac Muscle
 Striations
 Branching cells
 Involuntary
 Found only in the heart
 Usually has a single nucleus, but can have
more than one
Cardiac muscle
 Main muscle of heart
 Pumping mass of heart
 Critical in humans
 Heart muscle cells
behave as one unit
 Heart always contracts
to it’s full extent
 Structure of cardiac muscle
 Cardiac muscle cells (fibres) are
short, branched and interconnected
 Cells are striated & usually have 1
nucleus
 Adjacent cardiac cells are joined
via electrical synapses (gap
junctions)
 These gap junctions appear as
dark lines and are called
intercalated discs
 Found in the heart
 Involuntary rhythmic
contraction
 Branched, striated
fibre with single
nucleus and
intercalated discs
 Classification of Muscle
Skeletal- Cardiac- Smooth-
found in limbs found in heart Found in
viscera

Striated, multi- Striated, 1 Not striated, 1

nucleated nucleus nucleus

voluntary involuntary involuntary

 Muscle Control
Type of Nervous Type of Example
muscle control control

Skeletal
Skeletal Controlled Voluntary Lifting a
by CNS glass
Cardiac Regulated Involuntary Heart
by ANS beating
Smooth Controlled Involuntary Peristalsis
by ANS
TYPES OF
RESPONSES
Twitch-
• A single brief contraction
• Not a normal muscle function
Tetanus
• One contraction immediately followed by another
• Muscle never completely returns to a relaxed state
• Effects are compounded
Where Does the Energy Come From?

 Energy is stored in the muscles in the form of ATP

 ATP comes from the breakdown of glucose during
Cellular Respiration
 This all happens in the Mitochondria of the cell
 When a muscle is fatigued (tired) it is unable to
contract because of lack of Oxygen
 Exercise and Muscles
• Isotonic- muscles shorten and movement occurs (
most normal exercise)
• Isometric- tension in muscles increases, no
movement occurs (pushing one hand against the
other)
 Movement of Muscles

• Origin: the attachment of

the muscle to the bone that
remains stationary

• Insertion: the attachment

of the muscle to the bone
that moves

• Belly: the fleshy part of

the muscle between the
tendons of origin and/or
insertion
 HOW ARE MUSCLES ATTACHED TO
BONE?

• Origin- attachment to immovable bone

• Insertion- attachment to a movable bone
• Muscles are always attached to at least 2 points
• Movement is attained due to a muscle moving
an attached bone
 Muscle Attachments

Insertion

Origin
 Muscle Attachments
• The origin is on the clavicle and sternum.
• The insertion is on the skull.
• When the muscle contracts it will shorten
the distance between the origin and
insertion.
• The head will move when this muscle
contracts.
Types of Musculo-Skeletal Movement

Flexion
Extension
Hyperextension
Abduction, Adduction &
Circumduction
Rotation
 More Types of Movement……
• Inversion- turn sole of foot medially
• Eversion- turn sole of foot laterally
• Pronation- palm facing down
• Supination- palm facing up
• Opposition- thumb touches tips of fingers
on the same hand
Sternocleidomastoideus
Flexes and Rotates Head
 Sternocleidomastoideus
• Sometimes called the sternocleitomastoid.
• It is the same neck muscle shown on the previous
slide.
• This muscle has two origins.
– The first origin is on the sternum manubrium.
– The second origin is on the clavicle.
• The insertion is on the mastoid process of the skull.
• Contraction of both sternocleidomastoideus muscles
will flex the head. If just one of the muscles contracts,
the head will rotate.
 Masseter
Elevate Mandible
 Masseter
• The masseter is one of major chewing
muscles.
• The origin of the masseter is on the
zygomatic arch.
• The insertion is on the mandible.
• Contraction of the masseter will elevate the
jaw.
 Temporalis
Elevate & Retract Mandible
 Temporalis
• The temporalis is another chewing muscle.
– Note how it attaches on the side of skull.
• It also elevates the mandible.
• You do not need to know the insertions and
origins for this muscle
 Trapezius
Extend Head, Adduct, Elevate or
Depress Scapula
 Trapezius
• The trapezius is a large muscle in the upper back.
• It attaches to the skull, shoulder and vertebrae of
the back.
• When this muscle contracts it will cause the head
to extend.
• It will also move the scapula.
• The direction the scapula moves depends on
which part of the trapezius contracts.
• The trapezius may elevate or depress the scapula.
 Latissimus Dorsi
Extend, Adduct & Rotate Arm Medially
 Latissimus Dorsi
• The latissimus dorsi is a large muscle in the back.
– It is often referred to as a lat.
• It has origins on the vertebrae, ilium ribs and
scapula.
• The insertion is on the humerus.
– When it contracts it moves the humerus.
• It can extend, adduct and rotate the arm medially.
• This is the main muscle used in movement such as
pounding a nail with a hammer.
 Deltoid
Abduct, Flex & Extend Arm
 Deltoid
• The deltoid covers the shoulder and has the shape
of a delta.
• It has origins on the scapula and clavicle.
– The deltoid inserts on the deltoid tuberosity of
the humerus.
• Contraction of the deltoid will adduct the arm.
• If only the anterior fibers of the muscle contract it
will flex the arm.
• Contraction of the posterior fibers will extend the
arm.
 Pectoralis Major
Flexes, adducts & rotates arm medially
 Pectoralis Major
• The pectoralis major is a large muscle in the
pectoral region of the body.
• It has origins on the clavicle and sternum.
– The insertion is on the greater tubercle of the
humerus.
• Contraction of the pectoralis major will flex the
arm.
• It will also adduct and rotate the arm medially.
• The pectoralis major is used in movements such a
climbing, throwing and doing pushups.
Biceps Brachii
Flexes Elbow Joint
 Biceps Brachii
• The biceps brachii is located on the anterior side of the
upper arm.
• It is often just called the biceps.
– There is a biceps femoris in the leg we will study
shortly.
• The biceps has two origins. One origin is on the
corocoid process and the other on the Glenoid cavity of
the scapula.
• The “bi” in biceps refers to the two origins.
– It inserts on the radial tuberosity.
• Contraction of the biceps will cause flexing at the elbow
joint.
Triceps Brachii
Extend Elbow Joint
 Triceps Brachii
• The triceps is on the back of the upper arm.
• It has three origins.
• Two origins are on the back of the humerus
and one on the scapula.
• The triceps inserts on the olecranon.
• Movement of the triceps will extend the
elbow joint.
Rectus Abdominus
Flexes Abdomen
 Rectus Abdominus
• Rectus abdominus is a long muscle in the
abdomen.
• The muscle originates on the pubis.
• It inserts on the xiphoid process of the
sternum and also on cartilage of the ribs.
• When rectus abdominus contracts it will
flex the abdomen.
External Oblique
Compress Abdomen
 External Oblique
• Another muscle in the abdomen is the
external oblique.
• It has muscle fibers that run in an oblique
direction across the abdomen.
• Contraction of the external oblique will
compress the abdomen.
External Intercostals
Elevate ribs
 External Intercostals
• There are two groups of muscles that run
between the ribs.
• The first are the external intercostals.
• They will elevate the ribs.
Internal Intercostals
Depress ribs
 Internal Intercostals
• The internal intercostals are also located
between the ribs.
• They will depress the ribs.
Diaphragm
Inspiration
 Diaphragm
• This is an inferior view of the diaphragm.
• This muscle separates the abdominal cavity
from the thoracic cavity.
• When it contracts it will cause inspiration.
Forearm Muscles
 Forearm Muscles
• Flexor carpi—Flexes wrist
• Extensor carpi—Extends wrist
• Flexor digitorum—Flexes fingers
• Extensor digitorum—Extends fingers
• Pronator—Pronates
• Supinator—Supinates
 Gluteus Maximus
Extends & Rotates
Thigh Laterally
 Gluteus Maximus
• The large muscle on the posterior side of
the body at the top of each leg is the gluteus
maximus.
• The gluteus maximus originates on the
ilium, sacrum and coccyx.
• It inserts on the gluteal tuberosity of the
femur.
• This muscle will extend and rotate the thigh
laterally.
 Rectus Femoris
Flexes Thigh,
Extends Lower Leg
 Rectus Femoris
• Rectus femoris is located on the anterior
side of the thigh.
• It originates on the ilium.
• The insertion is on the patella and the tibial
tuberosity.
• When rectus femoris contracts it will flex
the thigh and extend the lower leg.
 Gracilis
Adducts and Flexes Thigh
 Gracilis
• The gracilis is on the medial side of the
thigh.
• It adducts and flexes the thigh.
 Sartorius
Flexes Thigh, &
Rotates Thigh
Laterally
 Sartorius
• Sartorius is a long, strap like muscle.
• It originates on the anterior superior iliac
spine of the ilium.
• The insertion is on the medial side of the
tibia.
• Contraction of the sartorius flexes the thigh
and rotates the thigh laterally.
• This is the muscle used when crossing the
legs to sit on the floor.
 Biceps Femoris
Extends Thigh &
Flexes Lower Leg
 Biceps Femoris
• Biceps femoris is one of the hamstring
muscles.
• The origin is on the ischial tuberosity.
• Biceps femoris inserts on the tibia and
fibula.
• This muscle extends the thigh and flexes the
lower leg.
 Gastrocnemius
Plantar Flexes Foot
& Flex Lower Leg
 Gastrocnemius
• Gastrocnemius is commonly called the calf
muscle.
• It originates on the distal end of the femur.
• The insertion is on the calcaneus bone of
the foot.
• It will cause plantar flexion of the foot and
also flex the lower leg.
Tibialis Anterior
Dorsiflexes and Inverts Foot
 Tibialis Anterior
• Tibialis anterior is located on the anterior
side of the tibia.
• It will dorsiflex and invert the foot.
 Categories of
skeletal muscle actions
• Categories Actions
• Extensor Increases the angle at a joint
• Flexor Decreases the angle at a joint
• Abductor Moves limb away from midline of body
• Adductor Moves limb toward midline of body
• Levator Moves insertion upward
• Depressor Moves insertion downward
• Rotator Rotates a bone along its axis
• Sphincter Constricts an opening
Diseases of the muscular
system
There is no single type of doctor that treats muscular
diseases and disorders. Rheumatologists, orthopedists and
neurologists may all treat conditions that affect the
muscles, according to the American Medical Association.
There are a number of common neuromuscular disorders,
according to Dr. Robert Schabbing, chief of neurology
at Kaiser Permanente in Denver.
 Common primary muscle disorders include inflammatory
myopathies, including polymyositis, which is characterized by
inflammation and progressive weakening of the skeletal
muscles; dermatomyositis, which is polymyositis accompanied
by a skin rash; and inclusion body myositis, which is
characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting.
Other common disorders are muscular dystrophies and
metabolic muscle disorders, he said.
 Muscular dystrophy affects muscle fibers. Metabolic muscle
disorders interfere with chemical reactions involved in
drawing energy from food.Neuromuscular junction disorders
impair the transmission of nerve signals to muscles,
Schabbing noted.
 The most common neuromuscular junction disorder is
myasthenia gravis, which is characterized by varying degrees
of weakness of the skeletal muscles. Schabbing said. "There
are many types of peripheral neuropathies that can be
secondary to other medical conditions, such as diabetes, or
due to a variety of other causes, including toxins,
inflammation and hereditary causes," he said.

 Motor neuron disorders affect the nerve cells that supply

muscles, Schabbing said. The most recognizable motor
neuron disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS,
commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
The most common symptom or sign of a muscle disorder is
weakness, although muscle disorders can cause a number of
symptoms, according to Schabbing. In addition to weakness,
symptoms include abnormal fatigue with activity, as well as
muscle spasms, cramping or twitching. Neuromuscular disorders
affecting the eyes or mouth can cause drooping eyelids or double
vision, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or, sometimes,
difficulty breathing.
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Electromyography — commonly referred to as an EMG — is
often used to diagnose muscular disorders. An EMG helps
characterize causes of nerve and muscle disorders by
stimulating nerves and recording responses, Schabbing noted.
Rarely, nerve or muscle biopsies are needed.
Smiling is easier than frowning.
It takes 20 muscles to smile and over 40 to frown.

Smile and make someone happy.