THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM By: Miriam Cantu & Nayeli Belmares

Muscular System The muscular system is responsible for the movement of the human body. Attached to the bones of the skeletal system are about 700 named muscles that make up roughly half of a person’s body weight. Each of these muscles is a discrete organ constructed of skeletal muscle tissue, blood vessels, tendons, and nerves.

Types Of Muscles Skeletal Muscles: They form most of the human body weight. They are almost always found attached to the skeleton and produce movements in different parts of the skeleton. Smooth Muscles: Smooth muscles form the soft body organs like stomach, intestine, blood vessels etc. They are also responsible for unconscious body activities like digestion of food. Cardiac Muscles: Cardiac muscles are exclusively found in human heart and no where else. They are extremely strong and powerful muscles. The pumping of blood by human heart is because of the force provided by the contraction of cardiac muscles.

Skeletal Muscles Smooth Muscles Cardiac Muscles Types Of Muscles

Major Functions Of The Muscular System Movement By Body Parts: Skeletal muscles provide the force by contracting actively at the expense of energy. In other words, muscles are motors of body where chemical energy of food is converted into mechanical work. Stability & Posture: Skeletal muscles stabilize human skeleton and give a proper posture to human beings. Some joints of human body are weak and they require the support of muscular system to achieve stability. Heat Production: A large share of body’s energy is used by muscular system. As a result of high metabolic rate, muscles produce great amount of heat in the body. Circulation: Cardiac muscles provide the main force for circulation of blood throughout human body. The regular pumping of heat keeps the blood in motion and nutrients are readily available to every tissue of human body. Help In Digestion: Smooth muscles of organs like stomach and intestine help the digestive system in the process of digestion of food.

Major Muscles In The Body

How Biceps and triceps work together In the upper arm, the biceps and triceps muscles work together to bend and straighten the elbow. When the biceps (on the front of upper arm) is contracted, or shortened, the triceps (on the back of upper arm) is elongated, or made longer, and the elbow bends

How our system works with other systems Receptors in muscles provide the brain with information about body position and movement. The brain controls the contraction of skeletal muscle. The nervous system regulates the speed at which food moves through the digestive tract. The endocrine system secretes hormones into blood and other body fluids.

Muscular System