Muscular System

The Human Muscular system is an organ system consisting of different types of muscles that
help us in the movement of the body. The muscles may be voluntary or involuntary in function.

Different parts of the Muscular System

The Muscular system consists of three types of muscles namely:
1. Skeletal Muscles
2. Smooth Muscles
3. Cardiac Muscles

About 600 muscles of all sizes and shapes are attached to the framework of the skeletal
system. These muscles contribute to the half of the total weight of an adults body.

The muscles help in holding the skeleton together and hold the signals that originate in the
brain and assist other parts in their movement. The Muscular system in humans is controlled by
the nervous system.

Muscles work together with bones to protect the bodys vital organs and support them in the
movement throughout the skeletal system.

Following are the Functions of the Muscular System:

Muscular system helps in the movement of the body.
Muscular system maintains the balance of the human body.
Muscular system maintains the posture of the human body.
Muscular system helps in the circulation of blood throughout the body.
Muscular system provides heat to the body and keeps it warm.
Muscular system provides strength to the human body.

Skeletal muscles:
Skeletal muscles are also known as voluntary muscles as they are under our control and
they move only when we want them to move. They are also known as striped and striated
muscles as they have striations anatomically and can be seen under a microscope.
Skeletal Muscles are also known as Straighted muscles, and these are the muscle fibers that
help in the movement of all the bones as the face and the eyes.

Through the central and peripheral nervous system, we have conscious control over these
skeletal muscles. Straighted muscle fibers have patterns of dark and light bands, or fibrils in
their cytoplasm.

Fibrous tissue that envelops and separates muscles is called fascia, which contains the
muscles blood lymph and nerve supply.
Smooth muscles:
Smooth muscles are called as non-striated muscles as these muscles do not contain any
striations when observed under a microscope. These are also known as involuntary muscles as
these muscles are not under our control.
The brain does not control its actions voluntarily. Smooth muscles are also known as visceral
muscles as these muscles fibers move internal organs such as the digestive tract, blood vessels,
and secretory ducts leading from glands.

These smooth muscles are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. These muscles are
known as smooth muscles because they have no dark and light fibrils in their cytoplasm.

Skeletal muscle fibers are arranged in bundles, while smooth muscle forms sheets of fibers as it
wraps around tubes and vessels.

Smooth muscles are responsible for the movement of muscular actions of internal organs such
as movement of food and wastes along the digestive tract. The other movement is the
contraction or dilation of the pupil of the eyes and other countless involuntary movements of
the sense and internal organs except the heart.

Cardiac muscles:
Cardiac muscles are also known as heart muscles. These muscles are specially confined
to the region of the heart, so they are known as cardiac muscles.
Cardiac muscles are involved in the rhythmic beating and contractions of the heart, which
are not under our consciousness, therefore cardiac muscles, are also known as involuntary
muscles.

Cardiac muscles are different from the skeletal muscles in having lateral connection between
the muscle fibers. They are under the control of Autonomic Nervous System and are not under
self-control.

Cardiac muscles are straightened in appearance but like smooth muscle in its action. Its
movement cannot be consciously controlled. The fibers of cardiac muscles are branching
fibers and are found in heart.