Muscles

Muscles are a type of tissue found in the human body. They are responsible for producing force and motion. They are primarily responsible for maintaining and changing posture, locomotion, as well as movement of internal organs, such as the contraction of the heart and the movement of food through the digestive system via peristalsis.

Muscles can be classified into three types based on their structure, function, and control mechanism. These are skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle.

Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle is a type of muscle that is attached to the skeleton and helps in movement. It is a voluntary muscle, meaning its movement can be consciously controlled. Skeletal muscles are composed of long, cylindrical cells called muscle fibers.

Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart, and its contraction constitutes the heartbeat. Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is involuntary, meaning its contractions are not under conscious control.

Smooth Muscle

Smooth muscle is found in the walls of organs and structures such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, bronchi, uterus, urethra, blood vessels, and the arrector pili in the skin (which are responsible for goosebumps). Smooth muscle is also involuntary.

Muscle Contraction

Muscle contraction is the activation of tension-generating sites within muscle fibers. The process of muscle contraction involves a series of steps, including the release of calcium ions, the formation of cross-bridges, and the sliding of myofilaments.

Muscle Diseases

There are many diseases and conditions that can affect muscles, including muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, and rhabdomyolysis. These diseases can lead to muscle weakness, pain, and in severe cases, loss of mobility.

See Also

• Muscle tissue
• Muscle contraction
• Muscle diseases

Muscles Resources
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