The Muscular System

DISCUSS THESE CHARACTERISTICS OF MUSCLES: EXCITABILITY,

EXTENSIBILITY, ELASTICITY, AND CONTRACTILITY.

 EXCITABILITY – can receive and respond to a stimulus

 EXTENSIBILITY – the fibres can extend beyond original shape
 ELATICITY – the ability of a muscle fibre to recoil and resume its resting
length after being stretched
 CONTRACTILITY – the fibres shortened when stimulated

DISTINGUISH BETWEEN VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE

AND RELATE TO THE THREE TYPES OF MUSCLE TISSUE.

 SKELETAL - muscles that are usually attached to bones / voluntary

 SMOOTH – walls of hollow internal organs / involuntary
 CARDIAC – heart ♥ / involuntary

DESCRIBE THE BASIC APPEARANCE OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF

MUSCLE.

SKELETAL
 cells are long / threadlike
 striated
 multinucleated
 stimulated by a nerve fibre / contracts producing movements
SMOOTH MUSCLE
 no striations
 individual smooth muscle cells are spindle shaped
 only one centrally located nucleus
CARDIAC
 striated
 uninucleated
 branching cells that fit tightly together at unique junctions called
intercalated disks

DISCUSS THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF MUSCLES.

MOVEMENT
 all movements within the body require muscle contraction
 skeletal muscles are responsible for all locomotion and manipulation
 blood flowing through our vessels is the work of the heart’s contraction
and the smooth walls of the vessels to maintain BP
POSTURE MAINTENANCE
 skeletal muscles must continually contract and relax to maintain posture
– muscle tone
JOINT STABILITY
 as muscles pull on our bones and cause movements
 they stabilize the joints of the skeleton
 skeletal muscles stabilize joints that require extra stability (shoulder)
HEAT GENERATION
The Muscular System

 as muscles contract they generate heat which is vital to maintain normal

body temperature
 skeletal muscle accounts for 40% of body mass
GUARDS ENTRANCES / EXTIS
 urinary / digestive system openings are guarded by two sets of muscles
 the most external is composed of skeletal muscle and provides voluntary
control over processes (swallowing / urination / defecation )

IDENTIFY THE MAIN ORGAN AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES OF THE

MUSCLE SYSTEM.

 “machines of our body”

 each skeletal muscle is an organ of the muscular system
 tendons assist in the function of the muscular system

EXPLAIN WHY MUSCLE IS AN ORGAN.

 Definition: a structure consisting of a group of tissues with a

specialized function.
 recall the four types of tissues
 muscles are composed of skeletal / nervous / connective tissue
 provides the function of: movement / maintaining posture / stabilizing
joints / generates heat / guarding entrances and exits

IDENTIFY THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF TENDONS.

 each muscle is separated from its adjacent one and is held in place by
connective tissue called fascia
 if the fibres extend beyond the muscle covering it becomes a tendon
 the tendon can become continuous with the fibres of the bone’s
periosteum and functions to attach muscle to bone

DESCRIBE THE ORGANIZATION OF A SKELETAL MUSCLE.

 locate the fascia – the external covering of a muscle / made of connective

tissue / separates one muscle from another
 as previously discussed when the fascia extends beyond the muscle it
becomes the tendon and serves as an attachment to the periosteum of
the related bone
 locate the epimysium – another layer of connective tissue surrounding
the entire muscle / under the fascia / composed primarily of collagen
 located the perimysium – another layer of connective tissue that
separated the entire muscle in compartments
 each of these compartments are called a fascicle
 the perimysium also contains a nerve and blood vessels supplying
innervation and blood flow to each fascicle
 locate the endomysium – a more delicate connective tissue which
surrounds each individual muscle fibre (cell)
 locate the myofibrils which are bundled within the muscle cell
The Muscular System

 they are made up of two filaments / actin (thin) myosin (thick) /

collectively they comprise the contractile units of the muscle cell

EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MUSCLE AND NERVOUS

SYSTEMS.

 each skeletal muscle is connected to a nerve cell called a motor neuron

 this provides communication to the CNS (brain and spinal cord) and the
CNS provides the information to contract
 a muscle fibre contracts only when it stimulated by a motor neuron

EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NEUROMUSCULAR

JUNCTION, SYNAPSE, MOTOR NEURON, VESICLES,
NEUROTRANSMITTERS, MUSCLE FIBRES, MOTOR END PLATE, AND
RECEPTORS.

 the neuromuscular junction includes the end of a motor neuron and the
motor end plate of a muscle fibre
 collectively where these two structures meet is called a neuromuscular
junction
 the synapse (synaptic cleft) is the narrow space between the end of the
motor neuron and the muscle fibre / the impulse must “jump” across this
space into the muscle to produce contraction
 the motor neuron is a nerve fibre that transmits impulses from the CNS to
an effector (muscle fibre)
 locate the synaptic vesicles within the terminal end of the motor neuron
(axon) / stored in these vesicles are neurotransmitters
 when the impulse gets to the end of the motor neuron it cannot get
across the synapse with the aid of a neurotransmitter
 neurotransmitters are chemical that is secreted by the terminal end of
the axon (motor neuron) / this “bridges” the gap or the synaptic cleft
allowing the impulse to continue on to the muscle (effector)
 a muscle fibre is a single muscle cell and is capable of contracting when
stimulated by a motor neuron
 locate the motor end plate – this is the specialized junction / region of a
muscle / contains the membrane’s receptors
 receptors are the sites that can receive the neurotransmitter and allow
the impulse to be transferred to the muscle fibre

IN REVIEW:

MUSCLE FIBRE
↓
connected to
The Muscular System

↓
MOTOR NEURON (nerve cell)
↓
meet at the neuromuscular junction
↓
NEUROTRANSMITTER is released
↓
this “bridges” the gap (synaptic cleft) between the
↓
NEURON and the MUSCLE
↓
the IMPULSE crosses the SYNAPTIC CLEFT
↓
stimulating the MUSCLE FIBRE to contract

EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN MUSCLE

CONTRACTION.

 Answered in previous objective

NAME THE BODY’S MAIN NEUROTRANSMITTER.

 Acetylcholine

OUTLINE THE PROCESS OF MUSCLE CONTRACTION AND RELAXATION.

 Recall myofibrils / the thread like components within the muscle cell
 myofibrils are composed of two protein filaments: actin (thin) /
myosin (thick)
 they are bundled together and give the muscle cell a striated appearance
 the final result of a muscle contraction is a sliding movement within the
myofibrils in which the filaments of actin and myosin merge
 the myosin molecule is made up of a protein strand with globular parts
that project outward called cross bridges
 in the presence of Ca ions the cross bridges react with the opposing actin
filaments forming links
 the reaction between actin and myosin generates the required force
needed for a muscle contraction
 a skeletal muscle fibre does not contract until it is stimulated by a
neurostransmitter
 acetylcholine is synthesized in the cytoplasm of the motor neuron and is
stored in the synaptic vesicles
 recall that when a nerve impulse jumps across the synaptic cleft
acetylcholine is released
 this stimulates a muscle impulse which passes in all directions over the
surface of the muscle fibre membrane
 Ca ions are released from storage areas which promotes the reaction
between the actin / myosin filaments producing a muscle contraction (ATP
required)
The Muscular System

 Ca pump (active transport) removes the Ca ions and the linkages are
broken allowing the actin / myosin filaments to slide apart causing
relaxation of the muscle fibre
 Acetylcholine decomposes by an enzyme “cholinesterase” which prevents
continued stimulation to the muscle fibre

IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF CALCIUM IN MUSCLE CONTRACTION.

 Answers in previous objective

 Ca initiates muscle contractions

EXPLAIN HOW THRESHOLD STIMULUS AND THE ALL-OR-NONE

PRINCIPLE RELATE TO MUSCLE CONTRACTION.

 the minimal strength needed to cause a muscle contraction is called the

threshold stimulus
 a muscle fibre will remain inactive until the stimulus is strong enough to
cause a threshold stimulus
 its response to a threshold stimulus is contraction to its fullest extent
 no partial contractions – all or none
 if we look at muscle contraction on the gross level it is notable that a
skeletal muscle consists of a huge number of cells
 these cells contract with varying degrees of force for different periods of
time
 a closer look at the nerve / muscular functional unit or motor unit will
reveal that each muscle is served by at least one motor nerve
 this nerve contains hundreds of neuron axons forming many
neuromuscular junctions
 a motor neuron and all the muscle fibres it supplies is called a motor unit
 when the motor neuron fires all the muscle fibres it innervates respond by
contracting
 muscles with fine motor control (eyes / fingers) have many small motor
units while large muscles that have less precise movements have larger
motor units
 the muscle fibres in a single motor unit are not clustered together but are
spread throughout the muscle, so stimulation of a single motor unit will
cause a weak contraction throughout the entire muscle

DISCUSS THE ROLE OF EXERCISE ON MUSCLE TISSUE.

 Atrophy – without development / a = without / trophy = nourishment,

development / decrease in the size of an organ or tissue
 Hypertrophy – increased development / hyper = above or excessive /
trophy = nourishment, development / increase in the size of an organ or
tissue

LOCATE THE MAJOR MUSCLES:

 Head and neck – masseter, temporalis, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid,

The Muscular System

 Trunk – abdominals, pectoralis major

 Upper extremities – biceps, triceps, deltoid, latissimus dorsi
 Lower extremities – iliopsoas, gluteus maximus, the adductors, the
hamstrings, the quadriceps, calcaneal tendon

IDENTIFY THE MUSCLES WHICH OPERATE THE JAW, NECK,

SHOULDER, ELBOW, WRIST, HIP, KNEE AND ANKLE JOINTS.

 Muscles are classified into four functional groups: prime movers /

antagonists / synergists / fixators
 Prime movers = a muscle that provides the major force during movement
 Antagonists = muscles that oppose or reverse a movement / when the
prime movers are active, the antagonists are relaxed
 Sometimes this relaxation provides some resistance
 Prime movers and antagonists are located on opposite sides of the joint
on which they act
 Most movements involve the action of one or more synergists and aid
prime movers by: promoting the same movement and reducing
undesirable or unnecessary movements that might occur as prime movers
contracts
 When synergists immobilize a bone or a muscle’s origin it is called a
fixator
 Muscles that help to maintain upright posture are called fixators
 Prime movers tend to get all the credit for causing certain movements
 The action of antagonists and synergists muscles are important in
effecting smooth, co-ordinated and precise movements
 Every muscle is attached to bone or other connective tissue at least two
points
 Origin = attached to the immovable bone
 Insertion = attached to the movable bone
 During contractions insertion moves toward the origin
 Body movements occur when muscles contract across joints
 The type of movement depends on the mobility of the joint and where the
muscles are located in relationship to the joint
 Most obvious are the freely movable joints of the limbs
 Less movable joints are also tugged into motion by the muscles (side to
side movement of the vertebrae)

JAW
 closure is the work of the masseter and temporalis muscles

NECK
 Flexion / sternocleidomastoid
 Extension / trapezius

SHOULDER
 Fixation / serratus anterior
 Abduction / deltoid
 Adduction / pectoralis major
 Flexion / deltoid and pectoralis major
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 Extension / lattisimus dorsi

ELBOW
 Flexion / biceps brachii
 Extension / triceps brachii

WRIST
 Flexion / anterior forearm muscles
 Extension / posterior forearm muscles

HIP
 Fixator / gluteus medius and minimus
 Abduction / gluteus medius and minimus
 Adduction / adductor muscles
 Flexion / iliopsoas
 Extension / gluteus maximus

KNEE
 Flexion / hamstring
 Extension / quadriceps

ANKLE
 Plantar flexion / posterior lower leg
 Dorsiflexion / anterior lower leg

LOCATE AND DESCRIBE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GLUTEAL

MUSCLES.

GLUTEUS MAXIMUS
 Longest and most superficial
 Forms the bulk of the buttock
 Thick coarse fibres
 Important site for intramuscular injections

GLUTEUS MEDIUS
 Thick large muscles
 Covered by the maximus
 Sandwiched between the maximus and the minimus

GLUTEUS MINMUS
 Smallest and deepest
 All three layered create the strength of the buttock
 Maximus – thigh extension
 Medius / minimus = thigh abduction

LOCATE AND DESCRIBE THE STRUCTURE AND EXPLAIN THE MAJOR

FUNCTIONS OF THE DIAPHRAGM.

 Definition: a sheet like structure largely composed of skeletal muscle

and connective tissue that separates thoracic and abdominal cavities.
The Muscular System

 Muscle fibres within the diaphragm are stimulated to contract by

impulses automatically from the diaphragm – phrenic nerve
 The diaphragm moves downward, increasing the size of the thoracic
cavity
 During relaxation the diaphragm springs upward forcing air out of the
lungs / assisting in expiration

DEFINE THE TERM HIATUS AND EXPLAIN ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE

DIAPHRAGM.

 Hiatus = opening
 Esophageal hiatus is the opening in the diaphragm for passage of the
esophagus / vena cava / aorta

DESCRIBE THE BASIC ORGANIZATION OF THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES.

 Broad flattened muscles in layers

 Posteriorly connect to the ribs and vertebral column
 Anteriorly to the linea alba (connective tissue) which extends from the
xyphoid process to the symphysis pubis
 Collectively the contraction of this muscle group, decreasing the size of
the abdominal cavity and increasing pressure inside
 This action assists in many physiological functions:
 Expiration of air from the lungs
 Defecation
 Urination
 Vomiting
 Childbirth

DESCRIBE THE LOCATION AND THE FUNCTION OF THE INGUINAL

CANALS.

 Bilateral areas in the groin

 Inguinal canals form during development
 Two months before birth the testes begin their descent through the
inguinal canals / a slanting passage way through the oblique muscles of
the inferior abdominal walls into the scrotum
 Link the scrotal cavities to the peritoneal cavity / nerves and blood
vessels pass through
 In normal adult males the inguinal canals are closed
 The spermatic cords present do create weak points in the abdominal wall
musculature that remain throughout life
 A common spot for hernias in men
 In females these canals are very small and contain nerves and the round
ligaments of the uterus
 This structure maintains the strength of the abdominal wall and hernias
are much less likely / rare
The Muscular System

LOCATE AND DESCRIBE THE MUSCLES OF THE PELVIC FLOOR,

IDENTIFY THE STRUCTURES THAT PIERCE IT AND EXPLAIN THEIR
IMPORTANCE.

 Compare the male to the female

 Various muscles support the pelvic viscera
 Muscles involved: levator ani, superficial transverse perinea,
bulbospongiosus, ischiocavernosus
 Paired levator ani assist in forming the funnel shaped pelvic floor or
pelvic diaphragm / weakens with age and childbirth
 These muscles close the inferior outlet of the pelvis
 Supports and elevates the pelvic floor and function as an antagonist to
increase abdominal pressure
 The pelvic diaphragm is pierced by the rectum and the urethra along with
the vagina in the female
 The ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus help to maintain erection of
the penis and clitoris