Module 2.
5 Microscopic Anatomy and Cells of the Skeletal Muscle
Organization of Skeletal Muscle
Objectives
1. Describe the microscopic structure of skeletal
muscle, and explain the role of myofibrils and
myofilaments
2. Describe gross muscle structure, and indicate the
names of its connective tissue coverings
3. Describe the structure and function of the
neuromuscular junction
4. List the criteria used in naming muscles
5. Define terms used to describe muscle actions in the
body
Skeletal Muscle
 Comprises the bulk of the body’s muscle
 Named as such because it is attached to the
skeleton
 Influences body shape, allow movement,
manipulate the environment
 Composed of relatively large, cylindrical cells, some
ranging up to 25 or 30 cm in length and can be seen
with the naked eye
 Are multinucleate – multiple oval nuclei can be
seen just beneath the plasma membrane (called the
sarcolemma in these cells) (Figure 11.1a)
 Nuclei are pushed aside by longitudinally arranged
myofibrils, which nearly fill the cell interior (Figure
11.1b)
 Alternating light (I) and dark (A) bands along the
length of the perfectly aligned myofibrils give the
muscle fiber its striped appearance.
 Myofilaments – smaller threadlike structures that
make up the myofibrils
 Actin (thin filament) and myosin (thick filament) are
myofilaments or contractile proteins. They slide
past each other to cause shortening or contraction
 Sarcomeres – actual contractile units of muscles (Z
disc to Z disc) (Figure 11.1c)
Organization of Skeletal Muscle Cells into Muscles

 Muscle fibers, which are soft and fragile, are bundled together with connective tissue to form skeletal muscles
(Figure 11.3)
 Endomysium – connective tissue that encloses each muscle fiber
 Perimysium – encloses a fiber bundle or fascicle
 Epimysium – encloses a large number of fascicles or the whole muscle, blend into strong cordlike tendons or
sheetlike aponeuroses which attach to other muscles or to bone

The Neuromuscular Junction

 Skeletal muscle cells are always stimulated by motor neurons via nerve impulses. The junction between a nerve
fiber (axon) and a muscle cell is called a neuromuscular, or myoneural, junction (Figure 11.4).
 Each motor axon breaks up into many branches called axon terminals as it nears the muscle, and each branch forms
a neuromuscular junction with a single muscle cell
 Motor unit (functional structure) = neuron + all the muscle cells it stimulates
 Synaptic cleft – small gap that separates
 Within the axon terminals are mitochondria and vesicles containing a neurotransmitter chemical called
acetylcholine (ACh)
 When a nerve impulse reaches the axon endings, some of the vesicles release their contents into the synaptic cleft.
 The ACh rapidly diffuses across the junction and combines with the receptors on the sarcolemma.
 If sufficient Ach is released, the permeability of the sarcolemma changes briefly, allowing more sodium ions to
diffuse into the muscle fiber.
 If enough sodium enters the fiber, an action potential is generated along its length.
Classification of Skeletal Muscles

Naming Skeletal Muscles

 Direction of muscle fibers – Some muscles are named relative to some imaginary line, usually the midline of the
body or the longitudinal axis of a limb bone. For example, the rectus abdominis is the straight muscle of the
abdomen. The terms rectus, transverse, and oblique indicate that the muscle fibers run with, at right angles, or
obliquely (respectively) to the imaginary line. Figure 11.6 shows how muscle structure is determined by fascicle
arrangement
 Relative size of the muscle – When size is the criterion, terms such as maximus (largest), minimus (smallest), longus
(long), and brevis (short) are often used—as in gluteus maximus and gluteus minimus
 Location of the muscle – Some muscles are named for the bone with which they are associated. For example, the
temporalis muscle overlies the temporal bone
 Number of origins – When the term biceps, triceps, or quadriceps forms part of a muscle name, you can assume that
the muscle has two, three, or four origins (respectively). For example, the biceps brachii muscle of the arm has two
origins
 Location of the muscle’s origin and insertion – For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle has its origin on the
sternum (sterno) and clavicle (cleido), and it inserts on the mastoid process of the temporal bone
 Shape of the muscle - For example, the deltoid muscle is roughly triangular (deltoid = triangle), and the trapezius
muscle resembles a trapezoid
 Action of the muscle – For example, all the adductor muscles of the anterior thigh bring about its adduction.

Types of Muscles

 Body movements involve the coordinated action of several muscles acting together.
 Muscles that are primarily responsible for producing a particular movement are called prime movers, or agonists.
 Muscles that oppose or reverse a movement are called antagonists.
 When a prime mover is active, the fibers of the antagonist are stretched and relaxed.
 Synergists aid the action of prime movers by reducing undesirable or unnecessary movement. For example, you can
make a fist without bending your wrist only because synergist muscles stabilize the wrist joint and allow the prime
mover to exert its force at the finger joints.
 Fixators, or fixation muscles, are specialized synergists. They immobilize the origin of a prime mover so that all the
tension is exerted at the insertion. Muscles that help maintain posture and those that “fix” the scapula during arm
movements are fixators
Module 2.6 Gross Anatomy of Muscular System
Objectives

1. Name and locate the major muscles of the head and

neck, and state their actions
2. Name and locate the major muscles of the trunk
3. Name and locate the major muscles of the upper limb
4. Name and locate the major muscles of the hip and lower limb
Muscles of the Head and Neck

The muscles of the head serve many functions. For instance, the muscles of facial expression differ from most
skeletal muscles because they insert into the skin (or other muscles) rather than into bone. As a result, they move the
facial skin, allowing a wide range of emotions to be shown on the face.

Other head muscles are the muscles of mastication, which are active during chewing, and the six
extrinsic eye muscles located within the orbit, which aim the eye
LAB ACTIVITY – Identifying Head and Neck Muscles

While reading the tables and identifying the head and neck muscles in the figures, try to visualize what happens
when the muscle contracts. Then, use a torso model or an anatomical chart to again identify as many of these
muscles as possible. Also carry out the following palpation on yourself:

• To demonstrate the temporalis, clench your teeth. The masseter can also be palpated now at the angle of the jaw.

• Smile. You are using your zygomaticus.

• Close your lips and pucker up. The orbicularis oris muscle does this
Muscles of the Trunk

The trunk musculature includes muscles that move the vertebral column; anterior thorax muscles, which move the ribs,
head, and arms; and abdominal muscles, which help move the vertebral column, and—an even more important
function— form the “natural girdle,” or the major portion of the abdominal body wall.
Muscles of the Upper Limb

The muscles that act on the upper limb fall into three groups: those that move the arm, those causing movement at the
elbow, and those moving the wrist and hand.

The muscles that cross the shoulder joint to insert on the humerus and move the arm are primarily trunk muscles that
originate on the axial skeleton or shoulder girdle. These muscles are included with the trunk muscles.

The second group of muscles forms the musculature of the humerus and crosses the elbow joint. They flex and extend
the forearm.

The third group forms the musculature of the forearm. Most of these muscles insert on the digits and produce
movements at the wrist and fingers.
Lab Activity - Demonstrating Operation of Trunk Muscles and Muscles of the upper limb

Ask someone to perform the said tasks as you provide resistance and palpate the following muscles.

1. Fully abduct the arm and extend the elbow. Now abduct the arm against resistance. You are using the latissimus
dorsi and pectoralis major muscles.

2. To observe the action of the deltoid, abduct your arm against resistance. Now attempt to elevate your shoulder
against resistance; you are contracting the upper portion of the trapezius.

3. The pectoralis major is used when you press your hands together at chest level with your elbows widely abducted

Complete the next portion of the exercise by palpating upper limb muscles, as outlined next.

1. To observe the biceps brachii in action, attempt to flex your forearm (hand supinated) against resistance.

2. Acutely flex your elbow, and then try to extend it against resistance to demonstrate the action of your triceps
brachii.

3. Strongly flex your wrist, and make a fist. Palpate your contracting wrist flexor muscles (which originate from the
medial epicondyle of the humerus) and their insertion tendons, which can be easily felt at the anterior aspect of the
wrist.

4. Flare your fingers to identify the tendons of the extensor digitorum muscle on the dorsum of your hand.
Muscles of the Hip and Lower Limb

Muscles that act on the lower limb cause movement at the hip, knee, and foot joints.

Muscles acting on the thigh (femur) cause various movements at the multiaxial hip joint (flexion, extension, rotation,
abduction, and adduction). These include the iliopsoas, the adductor group, and various other muscles.

Muscles acting on the leg form the musculature of the thigh. (Anatomically, the term leg refers only to that portion
between the knee and the ankle.) The thigh muscles cross the knee to allow its flexion and extension. They include the
hamstrings and the quadriceps. Some of these muscles also attach on the pelvic girdle, so they can cause movement at
the hip joint.

Muscles originating on the leg act on the foot and toe.

Lab Activity - Palpating Muscles of the Hip and Lower Limb

Complete this exercise by performing the following palpation demonstrations. It would be best if you can look for
someone else to help but you can do this by yourself although with a little difficult.

• Go into a deep knee bend (squat), and palpate your own gluteus maximus muscle as you extend your hip to return
to the upright posture.

• Demonstrate the contraction of the anterior quadriceps femoris by trying to extend your knee against resistance.
Do this while seated, and notice how the patellar tendon reacts. The hamstrings of the posterior thigh come into play
when you flex your knee against resistance.

• Now stand on your toes. Palpate the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius and follow it to its insertion in
the calcaneal tendon. If it’s difficult on your own, ask somebody to stand on their toes while you palpate the calf
muscles

• Dorsiflex and invert your foot while palpating your tibialis anterior muscle (which parallels the sharp anterior crest
of the tibia laterally).