MUSCULAR SYSTEM:

Anatomy and Physiology

Major Organs:
•Skeletal muscles
and associated
tendons and
aponeuroses
•Smooth muscles
•Cardiac muscles
Functions:
1. Movement of the body.
2. Maintenance of posture.
3. Respiration.
4. Production of body heat.
5. Communication.
6. Constriction of organs and
vessels.
7. Contraction of the heart.
General Properties of Muscle Tissue:

1. Contractility – ability of the muscles to

shorten forcefully or contract.
2. Excitability – capacity of muscles to
respond to a stimulus.
3. Extensibility – muscles can be stretched
beyond its normal resting length and still
be able to contract.
4. Elasticity – ability of muscles to recoil to
its original resting length after it has been
stretched.
 Muscle Types
Skeletal Muscle
•Attached to bones
•Cell shape is long, cylindrical
•Multiple nucleus, peripherally located
•Striated
•Not auto-rhythmic
•Voluntary in action; controlled by somatic
motor neurons
•Responsible for the movement of the whole
body
•Not fatigue resistant
•Makes up 40% of body weight
Smooth Muscle
•Located in the walls of hollow organs and glands
•Cell shape is spindle-shaped
•Single nucleus, centrally located
•Gap junctions join some smooth muscle cells
together
•Not striated
•Auto-rhythmic
•Controlled involuntarily by the endocrine and
autonomic nervous system
•Responsible for moving food through digestive
tract; empty urinary bladder; regulate blood
vessel diameter; contract many gland ducts
•Fatigue resistant
Cardiac Muscle
•Located in the heart
•Cell shape is branched, cylindrical
•Single nucleus, centrally located
•Intercalated disks connects one cell to another
•Striated
•Auto-rhythmic
•Controlled involuntarily by the endocrine and
autonomic nervous system
•Responsible for the contraction of the heart to
pump blood throughout the body
•Very fatigue resistant
Muscular System Diseases and Disorders
Condition Description

 Painful, spastic contractions of a muscle;

Cramps usually due to a buildup of lactic acid

 Non-life-threatening, chronic, widespread

Fibromyalgia pain in muscles with no known cure; also
known as Chronic Muscle Pain Syndrome

 Enlargement of a muscle due to an increased

Hypertrophy number of myofibrils, as occurs with
increased muscle use

 Decrease in muscle size due to a decreased

Atrophy number of myofilaments; can occur due to
disuse of a muscle, as in paralysis

 Group of genetic disorders in which all types

Muscular Dystrophy of muscle degenerate and atrophy

 Inflammation of a tendon or its attachment

Tendonitis point due to overuse of the muscle
Skeletal Muscle Structure
Tendons
•are connective tissues that transmit the
mechanical force of muscle construction
to the bones
•composed of dense fibrous connective
tissue made up of collagenous fibers
•attach a muscle to other body part,
usually bones
•remarkably strong, having one of the
highest tensile strengths found among soft
tissues
Structure of a Tendon
•Primary collagen fibers, which consist
of bunches of collagen fibrils, are the
basic units of a tendon.
•Primary fibers are bunched together into
primary fiber bundles or subfasicles,
which forms the secondary fiber
bundle.
•Multiple secondary fiber bundles
form the tertiary fiber bundles, which
in turn form a tendon unit.
Endotenon – a sheath of connective tissue
that surround the primary, secondary, and
tertiary fiber bundles which facilitates the
gliding of bundles against one another during
tendon movement.
Epitenon – fine layer of connective tissue
that sheaths the tendon unit.
Paratenon – allows the tendon to move
against neighboring tissues.
Sharpey fibers – collagenous fibers that
attached a tendon to the bone.
Connective Tissue Coverings of Muscle

Epimysium – dense connective tissue

sheath that wraps the whole muscle.
Perimysium – loose connective tissue
that wraps bundles of muscle fibers – the
bundles being known as fasicles. It also
separates muscle fascicles from each other.
Endomysium – loose connective tissue
that surrounds individual muscle fiber.
Muscle Fiber Structure
Muscle Fiber – a single cylindrical cell with
several nuclei located at its periphery.
Sarcolemma – cell membrane of the muscle
fiber
Sarcoplasm – cytoplasm of a muscle fiber;
contains many of the same organelles seen in
other cells; abundant in oxygen-binding
protein myoglobin
Transverse tubules (T-tubules) – narrow
tubes that extend into the sarcoplasm a right
angles to the surface; filled with extracellular
fluid
Sarcoplasmic reticulum – relatively high
concentration of Ca+, which plays a major
role in muscle contraction
Myofibrils – cylindrical structured
protein filaments within muscle fiber.

Two Types of Myofibrils

1. Actin Myofilaments (Thin Filaments)
2. Myosin Myofilaments (Thick
Filaments)
 Sarcomeres

the basic structural and functional unit of a

skeletal muscle because it is the smallest
portion of a skeletal muscle capable of
contracting.
•Z disks – separates one sarcomere from the
next sarcomere.
 Actin and Myosin Filaments

Actin Myofilaments (Thin Filaments)

3 Components of Actin Myofilaments

1. Actin strands – attachment sites for the myosin
myofilaments
2. Troponin – attached at specific intervals along
the acin myofilaments; troponin molecules have
binding sites for Ca+
3. Tropomyosin – covers and exposes the
attachment sites on the actin myofilaments
Myosin Myofilaments (Thick Filaments) –
resembles bundles of tiny golf club in which
the heads are referred to as myosin heads.

3 Properties of Myosin Heads

1. The heads bind to the attachment sites on
the actin myofilaments.
2. They bend and straighten during
contraction.
3. They breakdown ATP, releasing energy.
 Excitability of Muscle Fibers
Muscle fibers are highly specialized, electrically excitable clls
which means that muscle fibers are polarized.

Polarized – the inside of the cell membrane is negatively

charged compared with the outside.
Resting Membrane Potential – the electrical charge
difference across the cell membrane of an unstimulated cell
Depolarization – increase in positive charge inside the cell
membrane
Action Potential – rapid change in charge across the cell
membrane which is triggered by depolarization which results
in muscle contraction
Repolarization – Na+ channels are closed and gated K+
channels open
 Neuromuscular Junction
Skeletal muscle fiber do not contract unless they
are stimulated by motor neurons
•Motor Neurons – specialized nerve cells that
stimulate muscles to contract
Axons of motor neurons enter muscles and send
out in branches to several muscle fibers which forms
a junction called the neuromuscular junction
Neuromuscular junctions are regions where motor
neuron stimulates the muscle fiber
Motor neuron depolarization causes action
potentials to travel down the nerve fiber to the
neuromuscular junction
Neuromuscular Junction
 Motor Unit: the Nerve/Muscle
Functional Unit
Motor Unit – is a motor neuron and all the
muscle fibers it innervate

The number of muscle fibers per motor unit

vary from few to hundreds
Muscles that control fine movements
(fingers, eyes) have small motor units
Large weight bearing muscles (thighs, hips)
have large motor units
 Muscle Contraction
Contraction of skeletal muscle tissue occurs
as actin and myosin myofilaments slide past
one another, causing the sarcomeres to
shorten
Shortening of the sarcomeres causes the
myofibrils to shorten, thereby causing the
entire muscle to shorten
The process of muscle contraction where
actin myofilaments slide past myosin
myofilaments is called the sliding filament
mechanism
 Sliding Filament Mechanism
•Increase in Ca+ starts filament sliding
•Decrease in Ca+ turns off sliding process
•Thin filaments slide inward making all
sarcomeres throughout muscle fiber’s
length to shorten simultaneously
•Contraction is accomplished by thin
filaments from opposite side of each
sarcomere sliding closer together
between thick filaments .
 Energy Requirements for Muscle
Contraction
Initially, muscles use stored ATP for energy. ATP bonds are
broken to release energy. Only 4-6 seconds worth of ATP is
stored by the muscles. After this initial time, other pathways
must be utilized to produce ATP.

1. Creatine Phosphate (high-energy molecule)

•Creatine synthesize in liver, pancreas, kidneys
•The enzyme creatine kinase form Creaine Phosphate
from creatine and ADP
•Muscle cells store CP
•CP transfers energy to ADP to regenerate ATP by
direct phosphorylation of ADP
2. Anaerobic Respiration
•Anaerobic glycolisis and Lactic acid formation
•Reaction that breaks down glucose without
oxygen
•Glucose broken down to Pyruvic acid to produce
some ATP
•Pyruvic acid is converted to Lactic acid
•This reaction is not as efficient but is fast
•Huge amounts of glucose are needed
•Lactic acid produces muscle fatigue
3. Aerobic Respiration
•Glucose is broken down to carbon dioxide
and water, releasing energy (ATP)
•This is a slower reaction that requires
continuous oxygen
•A series of metabolic pathways occur in the
mitochondria during Aerobic Respiration
 Muscle Twitch, Summation, Tetanus, and
Recruitment
Muscle Twitch - a single contraction of a muscle fiber
in response to a stimulus; usually involves all the muscle
fiber in a motor unit.
3 Phase of Muscle Twitch
1. Lag phase or Latent Phase - the time between the
application of a stimulus and the beginning of
contraction
2. Contraction Phase – the time during which the
muscle contract
3. Relaxation Phase – the time during which the
muscle relaxes
Summation – individual muscles contract
more forcefully as stimulus frequency
increases, one contraction summates, or is
added onto a previous contraction increasing
the overall force of contraction
Tetanus – a sustained contraction that
occurs when the frequency of stimulation is so
rapid and no relaxation occurs
Recruitment – more motor units are
stimulated which increases the total number
of muscle fibers contracting
 Fiber Types (Contraction Speed)
1. Slow-twitch fibers
•contract slowly and can hold contraction longer
•responsible for the maintenance of posture as
well as endurance activities

2. Fast-twitch fibers
•contract quickly but contraction is shorter in
duration
•responsible for rapid, intense movement of
short duration such as sprinting
 Types of Muscle Contraction
1. Isometric Contractions (equal distance)
• Increase the tension in the muscles without
changing its length
• Responsible for the constant length of the
body’s postural muscles, such as the back
muscles

2. Isotonic Contractions (equal tension)

• Have constant amount of tension while
decreasing the length of muscle
• Movements of the arms or fingers are
predominantly isotonic contractions
3. Concentric Contractions
•Are isotonic contractions in which muscle
tension increases as the muscle shorten

4. Eccentric Contractions
•Are isotonic contractions in which tension is
maintained in a muscle, but the opposing
resistance causes the muscle to lengthen
•Used when a person slowly lowers a heavy
weight
 Muscle Tone
The constant tension produced by body muscles over long
periods of time
Responsible for keeping the back and legs straight, the head
in an upright position, and the abdomen from bulging

Fatigue
a temporary state of reduced work capacity.
Without fatigue, muscle fibers would be worked out to the
point of structural damage
1. Physiological Contracture – under conditions of
extreme muscular fatigue, muscles may be incapable
of either contracting or relaxing
2. Psychological fatigue – muscles are still capable of
contracting but the individual “perceives” that
continued muscle contraction is impossible
Overview of the Superficial Body Musculature
 Skeletal Muscle
Responsible for
Different Movements
 Facial Expression
Muscle Action

Buccinator Draws corner of mouth

posteriorly; compresses cheek to
hold food between teeth

Depressor anguli oris Lowers corner of mouth; frown

Levator labii superioris Raises upper lip; sneer

Occipitofrontalis Moves scalp; raises eyebrow

Orbicularis oculi Closes eyes; blinking,

squinting, winking

Orbicularis oris Closes and purse lips; kissing

Zygomaticus major Elevates and abducts upper lip

Zygomaticus minor and corner of mouth; smile
 Mastication (Chewing)
Muscle Action

Temporalis Elevates and draws mandible

posteriorly; closes jaw

Masseter Elevates and pushesmandible

anteriorly; closes jaw

Lateral pterygoid Pushes mandible anteriorly and

depresses mandible; closes jaw

Medial pterygoid Pushes mandible anteriorly and

elevates mandible; closes jaw
 Tongue and Swallowing Muscles
Muscle Action

Tongue Muscles

Intrinsic Changes shape of tongue

Extrinsic Moves tongue

Hyoid Muscles

Suprahyoid Elevates or stabilizes hyoid

Infrahyoid Depresses or stabilizes hyoid

Soft Palate Muscles Moves soft palate, tongue, or

pharynx

Pharyngeal Muscles

Elevators Elevates pharynx

Constrictors Constrict pharynx

 Neck Muscles
Muscle Action

Deep Neck Muscles

Flexors Flex head and neck

Extensors Extend head and neck

Sternocleidomastoid Individually rotate head;

together flex neck

Trapezius Extends and laterally flexes

muscles
Muscles Moving the Vertebral Column

Muscle Action

Superficial

Erector spinae Extends vertebral column;

maintains posture
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis

Deep Back Muscles Extend vertebral column and

help bend vertebral column
laterally
 Thoracic Muscles

Muscles Action

Scalenes Inspiration; elevate ribs

External intercostals Inspiration; elevate ribs

Internal intercostals Forced expiration; depresses

ribs

Diaphragm Inspiration; depresses ribs

 Abdominal Muscles
Muscles Action

Rectus abdominis Flexes vertebral column;

compresses abdomen

External abdominal oblique Compresses abdomen; flexes and

rotates vertebral column

Internal abdominal oblique Compresses abdomen; flexes and

rotates vertebral column

Transverses abdominis Compresses abdomen

Muscles of the Pelvic Floor and Perineum
Muscles Action

Pelvic Floor

Levator ani Elevates anus; supports pelvic

viscera

Perineum

Bulbospongiosus Constricts urethra; erects

penis; erects clitoris

Ischiocavernosus Compresses base of penis or

clitoris
External anal sphincter
Keeps orifice of anal canal
Transverse perinei (deep) closed

Transverse perinei (superficial) Supports pelvic floor

Fixes central tendon

 Scapular Movements
 Levator scapulae – elevates, retracts and rotates
scapula; laterally flexes neck.

 Pectoralis minor – depresses scapula or elevates ribs

 Rhomboids major – retracts, rotates and fixes

scapula

 Rhomboids minor – retracts, slightly elevates,

rotates and fixes scapula

 Serratus anterior – rotates and protracts scapula;

elevates ribs

 Trapezius – elevates, depresses, retracts, rotates and

fixes scapula; extends neck
 Arm Movements
 Deltoid – flexes and extends shoulder; abducts and medially
and laterally rotates arm.

 Latissimus dorsi – extends shoulder; adducts and medially

rotates arm.

 Pectoralis major – flexes shoulder; extend shoulder from

flexed positions; adducts and medially rotates arm.

 Teres major – extends shoulder; adduct and laterally rotates

arm.

 Supraspinatus – stabilizes shoulder and abducts arm.

 Biceps Brachii – flexes elbow; supinates forearm; flexes

shoulder.

 Brachialis – flexes elbow

 Triceps Brachii – extends elbow; extends shoulder; adduct arm

 Forearm Movements

• ANTERIOR FOREARM
 Palmaris Longus – tightens skin of palm

 Flexor Carpi Radialis – flexes and

abducts wrist

 Flexor Carpi Ulnaris – flexes and

adducts wrist

 Flexor digitorum profundus – flexes

fingers

 Flexor digitorum superficialis – flexes

fingers and wrist
 Forearm Movements

• POSTERIOR FOREARM
 Brachioradialis – flexes elbow

 Extensor carpi radialis brevis – extends

and abducts wrist

 Extensor carpi radialis longus – extends

and abducts wrist

 Extensor carpi ulnaris – extends and

adducts wrist

 Extensor digitorum – extends fingers

and wrist
 Supination and Pronation

Muscles Action

Pronator quadratus Pronates forearm

Pronator teres Pronates forearm

Supinator Supinates forearm (and hand)

 Thigh Movements
Muscles Action

Iliopsoas Flexes hip

Gluteus maximus Extends hip; abducts and

laterally rotates thigh

Gluteus medius Abducts and medially rotates

thigh

Gluteus minimus Abducts and medially rotates

thigh

Tensor fasciae latae Steadies femur or tibia through

iliotibial tract when standing;
flexes hip; medially rotates
and abducts thigh
 Leg Movements
Muscles Action
Anterior Compartment

Rectus femoris Extends knee; flexes hips

Vastus lateralis Extends knee
Vastus medialis
Vastus intermedius
Sartorius Flexes hip and knee; laterally
rotates thigh
Medial Compartment

Adductor longus Adducts and laterally rotates

thigh; flexes hip
Adductor magnus Adducts and laterally rotates
Gracilis thigh; extends knee

Posterior Compartment

Biceps femoris Flexes knee; laterally rotates

leg; extend hip
Semimembranosus Flexes knee; medially rotates
leg; extends hip
Semitendinosus Flexes knee; medially rotates
leg; extends hip
 Ankle and Toe Movements
Muscles Action
Anterior Compartment

Extensor digitorum longus Extends four lateral toes; dorsiflexes and

everts foot
Extensor hallucis longus Extends great toe; dorsiflexes and inverts
foot
Tibialis anterior
Dorsiflexes and inverts foot
Fibularis tertius
Dorsiflexes and everts foot

Medial Compartment

Gastrocnemius Plantar flexes foot; flexes leg

Soleus Plantar flexes foot

Flexor digitorum longus Flexes four lateral toes; plantar flexes

and inverts foot
Flexor hallucis longus Flexes great toe; plantar flexes and
inverts foot
Tibialis posterior
Plantar flexes and inverts foot
Posterior Compartment

Fibularis brevis Everts and plantar flexes foot

Fibularis longus Everts and plantar flexes foot

Effects of Aging on Skeletal Muscles
Reduction in muscle mass
Reduction in stamina
Motor neurons decreases
Neuromuscular junction decreases resulting to
decrease in action potentials
Slower response time for muscle contraction
Loss of strength and speed due to loss of
muscle fibers
Increased recovery time