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4. Generating heat. The fourth function of muscle, Myofibrils. The nuclei are pushed aside by long
generation of body heat, is a by-product of muscle ribbonlike organelles, the myofibrils, which nearly fill the
activity; as ATP is used to power muscle contraction, cytoplasm.
nearly three-quarters of its energy escape as heat and
this heat is vital in maintaining normal body temperature. Light and dark bands. Alternating dark and light bands
along the length of the perfectly aligned myofibrils give
the muscle cell as a whole its striped appearance.
Sarcomeres. The myofibrils are actually chains of tiny
contractile units called sarcomeres, which are aligned
end to end like boxcars in a train along the length of the
myofibrils.
Sarcoplasmic reticulum. Another very important muscle Every one of our 600-odd skeletal muscles is attached to bone,
fiber organelle is the sarcoplasmic reticulum, a or to other connective tissue structures, at no fewer than two
specialized smooth endoplasmic reticulum; the points.
interconnecting tubules and sacs of the SR surround
each and every myofibril just as the sleeve of a loosely Origin. One of these points, the origin, is attached to the
crocheted sweater surrounds your arm, and its major role immovable or less movable bone.
is to store calcium and to release it on demand.
Insertion. The insertion is attached to the movable bone,
and when the muscle contracts, the insertion moves
toward the origin.
Flexion. Flexion is a movement, generally in the sagittal Supination and pronation. Supination occurs when
plane, that decrease the angle of the joint and brings the forearm rotates laterally so that the palm faces
two bones closer together; it is a type of hinge joints, but anteriorly and the radius and ulna are parallel; pronation
it is also common at ball-and-socket joints. occurs when the forearm rotates medially so that the
palm faces posteriorly. Opposition. In the palm of the
Extension. Extension is the opposite of flexion, so it is a hand, the saddle joint between metacarpal 1 and the
movement that increases the angle, or the distance, carpals allows opposition of the thumb.
between two bones or parts of the body.
Rotation. Rotation is movement of a bone around a Interactions of Skeletal Muscles in the Body
longitudinal axis; it is a common movement of ball-and-
socket joints. Muscles are arranged in such a way that whatever one muscle
can do, other muscles can reverse. Because of this, muscles
Abduction. Abduction is moving the limb away from the are able to bring about an immense variety of movements.
midline, or median plane, of the body. Prime mover. The muscle that has the major
responsibility for causing a particular movement is called
Adduction. Adduction is the opposite of abduction, so it the prime mover.
is the movement of a limb toward the body midline.
Antagonists. Muscles that oppose or reverse a
Circumduction. Circumduction is a combination of movement are antagonists; when a prime mover is
flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction commonly active, its antagonist is stretched and relaxed.
seen in ball-and-socket joints; the proximal end is
stationary, and its distal end moves in a circle. Synergists. Synergists help prime movers by producing
the same movement or by reducing undesirable
movements.
Special Movements
Fixators. Fixators are specialized synergists; they hold a
Certain movements do not fit into any of the previous categories bone still or stabilize the origin of a prime mover so all
and occur at only a few joints. tension can be used to move the insertion bone.
Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. Lifting the foot so that
its superior surface approaches the shin is
called dorsiflexion, whereas depressing the foot is
Naming Skeletal Muscles
called plantar flexion.
Like bones, muscles come in many shapes and sizes to suit
their particular tasks in the body.
Inversion and eversion. To invert the foot, turn the sole
medially; to evert the foot, turn the sole laterally.
Direction of the muscle fibers. When a muscle’s name
includes the term rectus (straight) its fibers run parallel to
that imaginary line; the term oblique as part of a muscle’s
name tells you that the muscle fibers run obliquely (at a Arrangement of Fascicles
slant) to the imaginary line.
Relative size of the muscle. Such terms as maximus Skeletal muscles consists of fascicles, but fascicle arrangement
(largest), minimus (smallest), and longus (long) are often vary, producing muscles with different structures and functional
used in the names of muscles. properties.
Location of the muscle. Some muscles are named for
the bone with which they are associated; for example, the Circular. The pattern is circular when the fascicles are
temporalis and frontalis muscles overlie the temporal and arranged in concentric rings; circular muscles are
frontal bones of the skull. typically found surrounding external body openings which
Number of origins. When the term biceps, triceps, or they close by contracting.
quadriceps forms part of a muscle name, one can
assume that the muscle has two, three, or four origins. Convergent. In convergent muscle, the fascicles
Location of the muscle’s origin and converge toward a single insertion tendon; such a muscle
insertion. Occasionally, muscles are named for their is triangular or fan-shaped.
attachment sites.
Shape of the muscle. Some muscles have a distinctive Parallel. In a parallel arrangement, the length of the
shape that helps to identify them. fascicles run parallel to the long axis of the muscle; these
Action of the muscle. When muscles are named for muscles are straplike; a modification of the parallel
their actions, terms such as flexor, extensor, and arrangement, called fusiform, results in a spindle-
adductor appear in their names. shaped muscle with an expanded belly.
Chewing Muscles
The buccinator muscle, which is a member of this group, is
described with the facial muscles.
Posterior Muscles
The posterior muscles of the trunk include:
Trapezius. The trapezius muscles are the most superficial
muscles of the posterior neck and upper trunk; the trapezius
muscles extend the head; they also can elevate, depress,
adduct, and stabilize the scapula.
Latissimus dorsi. The latissimus dorsi muscles are the two
large, flat muscles that cover the lower back; these are very
important muscles when the arm must be brought down in a
Anterior Muscles power stroke.
The anterior muscles of the trunk include: Erector spinae. The erector spinae group is the prime
mover of back extension; these muscles not only act as
Pectoralis major. The pectoralis major is a large, fan- powerful back extensors but also provide resistance that
shaped muscle covering the upper part of the chest; this helps control the action of bending over at the waist.
muscle forms the anterior wall of the axilla and acts to
Quadratus lumborum. The fleshy quadratus lumborum
adduct and flex the arm.
muscles form part of the posterior abdominal wall; acting
separately, each muscle of the pair flexes the spine laterally;
Intercostal muscles. The intercostal muscles are deep
acting together, they extend the lumbar spine.
muscles found between the ribs; the external intercostals are
important in breathing because they help you to raise the rib
Deltoid. The deltoids are fleshy, triangle-shaped muscles
cage when you inhale; the internal intercostals, which lie
that form the rounded shape of the shoulders; the deltoids
deep to the external intercostals, depress the rib cage, which
are the prime movers of arm abduction.
helps to move air out of the lungs when you exhale forcibly.
Muscles of the Upper Limb
The upper limb muscles fall into three groups. The first group
arise from the shoulder girdle and cross the shoulder joint to
insert into the humerus. The second group causes movement at
the elbow joint. The third group includes the muscles of
the forearm.