The

Muscular
System
 Objectives
 Learn the different
muscles in the body.
Know the types,
characteristics and
functions of muscles.
Identify the disorders and
movements of muscle.
Muscular System
- Is a set of tissues in the body
with the ability to change shape.

- Muscles are responsible for all

types of body movement – they
contract or shorten and are the
machine of the body.
Three Basic Types
of
Muscle
Skeletal Muscle
Cardiac Muscle
Smooth Muscle
 Did You Know?
Muscles make up 40% of your
total body weight. (BMI)
The smallest muscles are found in
the middle ear (Stapedius). At just
1 millimeter in length, its purpose
is to stabilize the smallest bone in
the body, the STAPES.
 Did You Know?

 To take one step, you use 200

muscles.
 Your tongue is the strongest
muscle in your body.
 It takes 17 muscles to smile
and 43 to frown.
Characteristics
of
Muscles
 Characteristics
1. Contractability ~ its
ability to shorten and
thicken (when muscles
work they contract, that
is, they get shorter and
2. thicker)
Extensibility ~ ability to
stretch (when muscle is
relaxed it becomes longer
and thinner)
 Characteristics
3.Elasticity ~ ability to
return to original length.
4. Irritability ~ ability to
respond to stimulus.
5. Tone ~ slight tension
in the muscles at all
 Characteristics of Skeletal Muscles

Most are attached by

tendons to bones
Cells are
multinucleate
Striated – have
visible banding
 Characteristics of Skeletal Muscles

 Voluntary – subject to
conscious control
 Cells are surrounded and
bundled by connective
tissue = great force, but
tires easily
Connective Tissue Wrappings of
Skeletal Muscle

Endomysium –
around single
muscle fiber
Perimysium –
around a fascicle
(bundle) of fibers
Connective Tissue Wrappings of
Skeletal Muscle

Epimysium –
covers the entire
skeletal muscle.
Fascia – on the
outside of the
epimysium.
 Skeletal Muscle
Attachments
 Epimysium blends
into a connective
tissue attachment
 Tendon – cord-like
structure
 Aponeuroses –
sheet-like structure
 Skeletal Muscle
Attachments

Sites of muscle
attachment
Bones
Cartilages
Connective tissue
coverings
 Characteristics of Smooth Muscles
 Has no striations
 Spindle-shaped
cells
 Single nucleus
 Involuntary – no
conscious control
 Characteristics of Smooth Muscles

Slow, sustained
and tireless
Found mainly in
the walls of hollow
organs
 Characteristics of cardiac Muscles

 Has striations
 Usually has a single
nucleus
 Joined to another
muscle cell at an
intercalated disc
 Functions of Muscles

Produce movement
Maintain posture
Stabilize joints
Generate heat
Types of Muscle Contractions

Isotonic
Contractions
The tension in the
muscle remains
constant despite a
change in muscle
length
Types of Muscle Contractions
Isometric Contractions
 Tension in the muscles
increases
 The muscle is unable to
shorten
 A muscle generates tension
without changing length
 Muscle and Body Movement

 Movement is
attained due to a
muscle moving an
attached bone
 Muscle and Body Movement

Muscles are attached

to at least two points
 Origin – attachment
to a moveable bone
 Insertion –
attachment to an
immovable bone
 Effects of Muscles
Results of increased muscle use
Increase in muscle size
Increase in muscle strength
Increase in muscle efficiency
Muscle becomes more fatigue
resistant
 Types of
Body
Movements
 Types of Body Movements

1. Adduction ~ moving a
body part toward the
midline.

2. Abduction ~ moving a
body part away from the
 Types of Body Movements

3.Flexion (Flexor) ~ decreasing the

angle between two bones and body
part.

4. Extension ( Extensor) ~ increasing

the angle between two bones and
body part.
 Types of Body Movements
5. Rotation ~ a circular motion which
turns a body part on its axis.
6. Sphincters ~ ring like muscles that
close body openings.
example: rectum
7. Elevators ~ lift a part of the body
 Types of Body Movements
8. Depressors ~ lower a part of the body.

9. Supination ~ the act of rotating the

arm so the palm of the hand is upward.

10. Pronation ~ the act of rotating the

arm so the palm of the hand is turned
downward.
Types of
Body
Muscles
 Types of Body Muscles
 Prime Mover – muscle with the major
responsibility for a certain movement.
 Antagonist – muscle that opposes or
reverses a prime mover.
 Synergist – muscle that aids a prime
mover in a movement and helps prevent
rotation.
 Naming of Body Muscles

 Direction of Muscle Fibers

 Example: RECTUS (straight)
 Relative Size of the Muscle
 Example: MAXIMUS (largest)
 Naming of Body Muscles

 Location of the Muscle

 Example: many muscles are
named for bones (e.g.,
temporalis)
 Number of Origins
 Example: TRICEPS (three
 Naming of Body Muscles
 Location of the Muscles Origin and Insertion
 Example: STERNO (on the sternum)
 Shape of the Muscle
 Example: DELTOID (triangular)
 Action of the Muscle
 Example: FLEXOR and EXTENSOR (flexes or
extends a bone)
Muscular
Disorders
 Muscular Disorders

 Muscular Dystrophy: inherited,

muscle enlarge due to increased fat and
connective tissue, but fibers degenerate
and atrophy.

 Duchenne MD: lacking a protein to

maintain the sarcolemma.
 Muscular Disorders

 Cerebral Palsy - very common

congenital disorder that affects the
posture, balance and motor functions.

 Myasthemia Gravis - progressive

weakness due to a shortage of
acetylcholine receptors.
 Muscular Disorders

 Muscle Cramps - Cramps in muscles can

occur suddenly and involuntarily, in one or
more muscles. Overusing a muscle or
pinching nerve can cause a cramp.
 Polymyositis - It affects the systemic
connective tissue causing weakness and
muscle atrophy.
 Types of
Joint
Movements
 Joint Movement
 ELBOW FLEXION – decreasing the angle
between the lower arm and the upper arm.
 ELBOW EXTENSION – increasing the angle
between the lower arm and upper arm.
 KNEE FLEXION - decreasing the angle
between the lower leg and the upper leg.
 KNEE EXTENSION - decreasing the angle
between the lower leg and the upper leg.
 Joint Movement
 SHOULDER ADDUCTION – decreasing
the angle between upper arm and the
side.
 SHOULDER ABDUCTION – increasing the
angle between upper arm and the side.
 SHOULDER FLEXION – increasing the
angle between the upper arm and the
chest.
 Joint Movement
 SHOULDER HORIZONTAL FLEXION –
decreasing the angle between the upper
arm and the chest.
 SHOULDER HORIZONTAL EXTENSION –
increasing the angle between the upper
arm and the chest.
 HIP FLEXION – decreasing the angle
between the thighs and the torso.
 Joint Movement
 TRUNK FLEXION – decreasing the angle
between the chest and the stomach.
 TRUNK EXTENSION – increasing the angle
between the chest and the stomach.
 ANKLE FLEXION – decreasing the angle
between the foot and the shin.
 ANKLE EXTENSION – decreasing the angle
between the foot and the shin.
 Joint Movement
 WRIST FLEXION - decreasing the angle
between the palm and the underside of
the forearm.
 WRIST EXTENSION - increasing the
angle between the palm and the
underside of the forearm.