INTRODUCTION TO MUSCLES

Functions  Movement  Stabilization of Joints  Posture  Thermogenesis

Three Types

Cardiac Muscle

Smooth Muscle

Skeletal Muscle

Cardiac Muscle  Found only in heart  Involuntary  Branching, striated  Intercalated discs – special cell junctions that allow heart muscles to coordinate contractions

Smooth Muscle  Mainly in walls of hollow organs  Involuntary  Nonstriated  Peristalsis – wavelike motion of contraction

Skeletal Muscle  Voluntary – only type that makes up the “muscular system”  Found in skeletal muscles attached by tendons to bone  Striated, multinucleate

Connective Tissue Wrappings  Endomysium – wraps each muscle fiber  Perimysium – wraps bundles of fibers called fascicles  Epimysium – surrounds whole muscle

What can you identify?