MUSCULAR SYSTEM NOTES.docVIP

MUSCULAR SYSTEM NOTES General Introduction The muscular system is made up of over 700 skeletal muscles. Muscles are considered organs because they are made up of muscle tissue, epithelial tissue, connective tissue (e.g. tendons, aponeuroses, coverings), and nervous tissue. A single named skeletal muscle such as the biceps brachii may be made of 1000s of cells and each cell is as long as the muscle itself. Functions of the Muscular System Produce Movement - Movement of the body as a whole Propels blood, food, wastes, and babies, eye movement Maintain Posture and Body Position - muscles continuously contract to help you maintain your body posture Support Soft Tissues - Soft tissues such as the organs in your abdominal and pelvic cavity are supported by skeletal muscle Control Entrances and Exits - Openings to the urinary and digestive tracts have muscles that allow you to control swallowing, defecation, and urination Maintain Body Temperature - Contractions increase body heat through shivering Characteristics of Muscle tissue/cells Functional Features Contractility - long cells shorten and generate pulling force Excitability - electrical nerve impulse stimulates the muscle cell to contract Extensibility - can be stretched back to its original length by contraction of an opposing muscle Elasticity - can recoil after being stretched General Description Cells of muscles are known as fibers Plasma membrane is called a sarcolemma Cytoplasm is called sarcoplasm Muscle contraction is produced by two types of myofilaments (contractile proteins) called actin and myosin. These two proteins generate contractile force Each muscle is an organ consisting mostly of muscle tissue Each skeletal muscle is packaged in connective and supplied by branches of , one nerve, one artery and one or more veins Muscle Attachments Most skeletal muscles run from one bone to another bone. Muscles are attached to bones by tendons or aponeuroses. At movable joints (diarthroses or synovi