The muscular system is a complex network of muscles that allows the body to move, maintain posture, and generate heat. It is made up of over 600 muscles, which are attached to bones by tendons. Muscles are responsible for voluntary movements, such as walking and talking, as well as involuntary movements, such as the beating of the heart and the movement of food through the digestive system. The muscular system also plays a role in supporting the body's structure and protecting internal organs. Regular exercise and proper nutrition are important for maintaining a healthy muscular system.
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Google Gemini AI
May 18
Muscular System
Functions:
- Movement - Posture and stability - Heat production - Protection of organs - Fuel storage
Structure:
Types of Muscle Tissue:
- Skeletal muscle: Attached to bones, voluntary control - Smooth muscle: Found in organs, involuntary control - Cardiac muscle: Found in heart, involuntary control
Components of Muscle Cells (Myofibrils):
- Myofilaments: Actin (thin) and myosin (thick) filaments - Sarcomeres: Basic structural units of muscle
Muscle Attachments:
- Origin: Attachment point to a more stationary bone - Insertion: Attachment point to a more mobile bone
Muscle Groups:
- Flexors: Bend joints - Extensors: Straighten joints - Abductors: Move limbs away from body midline - Adductors: Move limbs towards body midline - Rotators: Twist joints
Innervation:
- Motor neurons: Transmit signals from the nervous system to muscle fibers - Neuromuscular junction: Connection between motor neuron and muscle fiber
Muscle Physiology:
Excitation-Contraction Coupling:
- Action potential: Electrical impulse traveling along motor neuron - Calcium release: Action potential triggers calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum - Cross-bridge formation: Calcium binds to troponin, allowing actin and myosin filaments to interact and slide
Muscle Contraction:
- Sliding filament theory: Actin and myosin filaments slide past each other, shortening the muscle - Isometric contraction: Muscle length does not change, tension increases - Isotonic contraction: Muscle length changes, tension remains constant - Concentric contraction: Muscle shortens - Eccentric contraction: Muscle lengthens
Muscle Regulation:
- Hormonal control: Hormones like testosterone and growth hormone promote muscle growth - Neural control: Nervous system regulates muscle activity - Oxygen and nutrient supply: Essential for muscle function