THE MUSCULAR

SYSTEM

By: Angus, Lindsey, Mikey, and Olivia

The Muscular System: Functions

What does it do?

allows the body to move

maintains the bodys posture and form
produces body heat
protects internal organs
helps move substances throughout the
body

The Muscular System: Functions

(contd)
Different Muscles and Their Functions:

about 700 muscles in your body

Three types of muscle

Visceral/Smooth: includes stomach, blood vessels, intestines.

Weakest of all your muscles, help move needed substances
and nutrients and/or waste by squeezing together
(contractions). Works involuntarily.

Cardiac: found only in the heart. Pumps blood throughout the

body, and works by contractions. Is a self-stimulating muscle.

Skeletal: contracts to bring bones together in order for us to

move. Named based on shape, size, function, and location.

Organization

Elasticity is the ability of a muscle to rebound toward its

original length after a contraction
Extensibility is the ability to continue to contract over a
range of resting lengths
Contractility is the ability to shorten actively and exert a
pull or tension that can be harnessed by connective
tissues
Excitability is the ability to respond to stimulation

Interactions With Other Systems

How does the Muscular System interact with other systems?
-

Receptors in muscles provide the nervous system with

information about body position and movement, and the
brain controls the contraction of skeletal muscle
The circulatory system brings nutrients to the muscles
and takes away waste, and also carries hormones that
regulate muscular activity.

Interactions With Other Systems

How does the Muscular System interact with other systems?
-

It is the movement of the diaphragm, a large, flat muscle

that causes the lungs to inflate and deflate.
Muscles of the jaw chew food, and then muscles in the
esophagus move food from the mouth to the stomach.

Muscle Diseases
What causes them:

injury/overuse (sprains, cramps, tendonitis)

inflammation
infection
genetic disorders
some cancers

Muscle Diseases
Effects:
neurons can become unhealthy or die, and communication between your
nervous system and muscles breaks down
muscles can begin to waste away
can sometimes affect heart function and ability to breathe
most disorders have no cure
there are hundreds of diseases/disorders with different causes and
outcomes
ex: ALS is a nerve cell disease in the spinal cord and brain, and the muscles
have no nourishment which leads to the muscles wasting away

References:
muscular system functions: http://www.innerbody.com/image/musfov.html#fulldescription
muscle diseases: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/muscledisorders.html
http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/