The Muscular System

By:
Dr. Nazia Qamar
Lecturer Anatomy
LCMD

The Muscular System 1

Muscles:contractile tissue
Muscles are
responsible for all types
of body movement
Three basic muscle
types are found in the
body
–Skeletal muscle
–Cardiac muscle
–Smooth muscle

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 Characteristics of Muscles
Muscle cells are elongated
(muscle cell = muscle fiber)
Contraction of muscles is
due to the movement of
microfilaments
All muscles share some
terminology
– Prefix myo refers to muscle
– Prefix mys refers to muscle
– Prefix sarco refers to flesh
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 Skeletal Muscle Characteristics
Most are
attached by
tendons to
bones

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Skeletal Muscle Characteristics
Cells are multinucleate
Striated – have visible banding
Voluntary – subject to conscious control
Cells are surrounded and bundled by
connective tissue

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 How to study skeletal muscles

How to study skeletal muscles:

origo, insertion, position (scheme,
tables), identification, muscle groups,
innervation, function,
osteofascial spaces (compartments),
transverse sections of limb segments,
dissection

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 Connective tissue wrapping of skeletal muscle

perimysium
endomysium
epimysium

Attachments of skeletal
muscles – origin, insertion,
endomysial and perimysial The Muscular System 7

sheaths, fascia
 Microscopic anatomy of skeletal muscle

muscle fibre,
myofibrils,
sarcomeres
sarcoplasmic
reticulum,
T-tubules,
triads
mitochondria,
sarcolemma,
basal lamina

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Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal
Muscle
Sarcomere
– Contractile unit of a muscle fiber

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Smooth Muscle Characteristics
Has no striations
Spindle-shaped
cells
Single nucleus
Involuntary – no
conscious control
Found mainly in
the walls of hollow
organs
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Cardiac Muscle Characteristics
Has striations
Usually has a
single nucleus
Joined to another
muscle cell at an
intercalated disc
Involuntary
Found only in the
heart
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 Function of Muscles
Produce
movement
Maintain posture
Stabilize joints
Generate heat

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 Fibre Types of Skeletal Muscle

• Type 1 fibres are slow-contracting and

fatigue-resistant
• Type 2A fibres are fast-contracting and
easily fatigue
• Type 2X fibres are fast-contracting and
resistant to fatigue

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Fascicular architecture of muscles

pennation of muscles

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Shapes of muscle fibers

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 Properties of Skeletal Muscle
Activity
Irritability – ability to
receive and respond to a
stimulus
Contractility – ability to
shorten when an
adequate stimulus is
received

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Naming Skeletal Muscles
Direction of
Muscle
Fibers

Action Location

Skeletal
Muscle
Origin
& Size
Insertion

Number
Shape Of
Origins

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Direction of Muscle Fibers
Relative to the
Midline
RECTUS =
parallel to the
midline
– Rectus
Abdominus
TRANSVERSE =
perpendicular to
midline

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Location
Structure near
which muscle is
found
– FRONTALIS = near
FRONTAL bone
– OCCIPITALIS =
near OCCIPITAL
bone

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 Size
Relative Size of
Muscle
MAXIMUS = largest
– Gluteus Maximus
MEDIUS = middle
– Gluteus Medius
MINIMUS =
smallest
– Gluteus Minimus
LONGUS = longest
– Fibularis Longus
BREVIS = short
– Fibularis Brevis
TERTIUS = shortest
– Fibularis Tertius
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Number of Origins
Number of tendons of
origin
BICEPS = Two
– Biceps Brachii
Biceps Femoris
TRICEPS = Three
– Triceps Brachii
QUADRICEPS = Four
– Quadriceps Femoris
– Transverse Abdominus
OBLIQUE = diagonal
to midline
– External Oblique

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 Shape
Relative Shape of
the Muscle
DELTOID =
triangular shape Δ
TRAPEZIUS =
trapezoid shape 
SERRATUS = saw-
toothed ♒
RHOMBOIDEUS =
rhomboid shape 
TERES = round ○

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Origin & Insertion
Origin –
attachment to an
immoveable bone
Insertion –
attachment to a
movable bone
ILIO COSTALIS=
attaches to the
ilium & ribs (costal
= ribs)

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 Action
NAME ACTION EXAMPLE
Decrease angle at a
FLEXOR joint
Flexor Carpi Radialis

Extensor Carpi
EXTENSOR Increase angle at a joint
Ulnaris
Move bone away from Abductor Pollicis
ABDUCTOR midline Longus
Move bone toward
ADDUCTOR midline
Adductor Longus

Produce upward
LEVATOR movement
Levator Scapulae

Produce downward Depressor Labii

DEPRESSOR movement Inferioris
Turn palm
SUPINATOR upward/anterior
Supinator

Turn palm
PRONATOR downward/posterior
Pronator Teres
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 Nerve supply of skeletal muscle

Innervation of skeletal muscle:

motoneurons, motor units,
motor end- plates, acetylcholine,
proprioceptive neurons, The Muscular System 25
 Types of 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
Fixator – stabilizes the origin of a prime
mover

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 Muscular Dystrophy
Congenital muscle-destroying disease
affect specific muscle groups
Muscle fibers degenerate & atrophy due
to an absence of dystrophin, a protein
that helps keep muscle cells intact
Most common & serious—Duchenne’s
M.D.
– Mostly in males (diagnosed between2-6 yrs)
– Survival is rare beyond early 30’s
– X-linked recessive
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 Myasthenia gravis
Rare adult disease caused by
antibodies to acetylcholine
receptors at the neuromuscular
junction which prevents the
muscle contraction from
occurring
Drooping upper eyelids,
difficulty swallowing & talking,
muscle weakness & fatigue
Death occurs when respiratory
muscles cease to function
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 Aging
Connective Tissue
increases
Amount of Muscle tissue
decreases
Muscles become
stringier(sinewy)
Body weight declines due
to loss of muscle mass
By age 80, muscle strength
usually decrease by 50%
without weight training
exercises The Muscular System 29
 Effects of Exercise on Muscle
Aerobics result in stronger
muscles due to increase
blood supply
Muscle fibers increase
mitochondria and oxygen
storage
Muscle becomes more
fatigue resistant
Heart enlarges to pump
more blood to body
Does not increase skeletal
muscle size The Muscular System 30
Effects of Exercise on Muscle
Results of increased
muscle use from
resistance training
Individual muscle
cells make more
contractile filaments
& connective tissue
increases
– Increase in muscle size
– Increase in muscle
strength The Muscular System 31
 Five Golden Rules of Gross
Muscle Activity
1. all muscles cross at least one joint
2. bulk of muscles lies proximal to the
joint crossed
3. all muscles have at least 2
attachments: origin & insertion
4. muscles only pull/never push
5. during contraction the muscle
insertion moves toward the origin
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THANK YOU

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