MUSCULAR
SYSTEM
PREPARED BY: M. MARTIN
TYPES OF MUSCULAR TISSUE
1. Skeletal Muscle Tissue
2. Cardiac Muscle Tissue
3. Smooth Muscle Tissue
TYPES OF MUSCULAR TISSUE
A. Skeletal Muscle Tissue
Attached to bones; move parts of the skeleton
Striated
Voluntary
Has limited capacity for regeneration
Multinucleated, at the periphery
TYPES OF MUSCULAR TISSUE
B. Cardiac Muscle Tissue
• forms the bulk of the heart wall
• striated
• involuntary
• can regenerate under certain conditions
• fibers are branched
• single, centrally located nucleus
TYPES OF MUSCULAR TISSUE
C. Smooth Muscle Tissue
• located in the walls of hollow internal structures
• participates in internal processes
• non-striated
• involuntary
• oval, centrally located nucleus
FUNCTIONS OF MUSCULAR TISSUE
A. Producing body movements
B. Stabilizing body positions
C. Storing and moving substances within the
body
D. Producing heat
SKELETAL MUSCLE TISSUE
Connective tissue components:
a. Subcutaneous layer/Hypodermis
b. Fascia
irregular connective tissue
lymphatic vessels
CONNECTIVE TISSUE COMPONENTS
Connective tissue surrounds and protects
muscle fibers.
A. Subcutaneous layer/Hypodermis
• Composed of areolar connective tissue
and adipose tissue
• Provides pathway for nerves, blood
vessels, and lymphatic vessels to enter and exit
the muscles
• Adipose tissue serves as an insulator,
protects muscle from physical trauma
B. Fascia
• dense sheet or broad band of dense irregular
connective tissue
• lines the body wall and limbs
• supports and surrounds muscles and other
organs of the body
• allows free movements
• carries nerves, blood vessels and lymphatic
vessels
• supports and surrounds muscles and other
organs of the body
three layers:
1. epimysium
• wraps the entire muscle
2. perimysium
• surrounds bundles of muscle
fibers called fascicles
3. endomysium
• wraps individual muscle fibers
These three extend beyond the
muscle as a tendon which is a cord
of dense regular connective tissue
composed of parallel bundles of
collagen and functions as an
attachment between muscles and
bones
II. NERVE AND BLOOD SUPPLY
Contraction
Chief characteristic of muscles
Requires ATP
An artery and one or two veins accompany
each nerve that penetrates skeletal muscle
III. HISTOLOGY
A. Muscle Fibers
elongated, cylindrical cells
arranged parallel to one another
components
1. sarcolemma
plasma membrane
2. transverse tubules
tunnel in from the surface toward
the center of each muscle fiber
3. sarcoplasm
cytoplasm
contains several mitochondria
4. sarcoplasmic reticulum
network of fluid filled membrane-
enclosed tubules which store Ca2+
ions
5. myoglobin
reddish pigment
stores oxygen
B. Myofibrils
cylindrical structures extending along
the entire length of muscle fiber
components:
1. sarcomeres
compartments formed by overlapping
of thin and thick filaments
basic functional units of striated
muscle fibers
2. Z discs
zigzagging zones of dense protein
material which separate
sarcomeres from one another
3. A band
darker area within a sarcomere
extends through the entire length of
thick filaments at both ends, both
thick and thin filaments overlap
4. H zone
• center of each A band
• contains only thick filaments
5. I band
• lighter area at either side of A
band
• contains the rest of thin filaments
• extends into two sarcomeres
divided by a Z disc
C. Myosin (thick filaments)
• shaped like two golf clubs twisted together
• have tails and heads
D. Actin (thin filaments)
• anchored to Z discs
• contain two other proteins:
1. tropomyosin
• cover myosin-binding sites on actin
Actin filaments join together to form
2. troponin
actin molecules which contain myosin-
• holds tropomyosin in place
binding sites where myosin heads
• lets go of tropomyosin as it changes shape
attach
CONTRACTION AND RELAXATION OF SKELETAL MUSCLE
I. NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION
A. Muscle action potential
• Electrical signal that stimulates skeletal muscle contraction
B. Motor neuron
• Delivers muscle action potential
C. Motor unit
• Combination of a single motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it
D. Motor End Plate
• region of the sarcolemma near the
axon terminal
E. Synaptic Cleft
• space between the axon terminal
and sarcolemma
F. Neuromuscular Junction
• synapse formed between the axon
terminals of a motor neuron and
motor end plate of a muscle fiber
In the neuromuscular junction, motor
neuron excites a muscle fiber in the
following way…
1. Release of acetylcholine (ACh)
• triggered by nerve impulse at synaptic
end bulbs
• diffuses across synaptic cleft between
motor neuron and motor end plate
2. Activation of ACh receptors
• opens ion channels
III. PHYSIOLOGY OF CONTRACTION
• calcium ions and ATP are needed in muscle contraction
• there is low level of calcium ions in the sarcoplasm when the muscle is relaxed
III. PHYSIOLOGY OF CONTRACTION
• calcium ions and ATP are needed in muscle contraction
• there is low level of calcium ions in the sarcoplasm when the muscle is relaxed
IV. TYPES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS
IV. TYPES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS
A. Slow Oxidative (SO) Fibers
• red fibers
• small in diameter
• appear dark red because of myoglobin
• contain many large mitochondria
• generate ATP by means of aerobic cellular respiration
• resistant to fatigue and are capable of prolonged, sustained
IV. TYPES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS
B. Fast Oxidative-Glycolytic (FOG) Fibers
• intermediate in diameter among the three
• also appears dark red because of myoglobin
• generate ATP by means of both aerobic cellular
respiration and anaerobic glycolysis (because of their
high glycogen content)
IV. TYPES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS
C. Fast Glycolytic (FG) Fibers
• white fibers
• largest in diameter
• contain the most myofibrils
• low myoglobin content and few mitochondria
• contain large amounts of glycogen and generate ATP by anaerobic
glycolysis
• used for intense movements but fatigue quickly
VARIOUS ROLES OF MUSCLES
Agonist (prime mover)
• Muscle primarily responsible for
the action (movement)
Antagonist
• Muscle responsible for action in
the opposite direction of an
agonist or for resistance to an
agonist
Synergist
• Muscle that assists an
agonist, often by
supplementing the
contraction force
Fixator
• Special type of synergist
muscle; muscle
contraction will stabilize a
joint so another
contracting muscle exerts
a force on something else
Muscles of facial expression ■ depressor anguli oris
■ epicranius (occipitofrontalis) ■ depressor labii inferioris
o ∙ frontal belly (frontalis) ■ zygomaticus major
o ∙ occipital belly (occipitalis) ■ zygomaticus minor
■ nasalis ■ levator labii superioris
■ orbicularis oculi ■ levator anguli oris
■ orbicularis oris ■ mentalis
■ risorius ■ buccinator
■ depressor anguli oris ■ platysma
Epicranius - Raises eyebrows; retracts scalp
Nasalis - Widens nostrils
Orbicularis oculi - Closes eyes as in blinking
Orbicularis oris - Closes lips; protrudes lips as for
kissing
Risorius - Draws corner of mouth laterally as
when expression of horror
Depressor anguli oris - Draws corner of mouth
laterally and downward to open mouth and
expression of sadness
Depressor labii inferioris - Draws lower lip
downward and laterally in chewing and
expression of doubt
Zygomaticus major - Raises corner of mouth as when
smiling and laughing
Zygomaticus minor - Raises corner of mouth as when
smiling and laughing
Levator labii superioris - Opens lips; raises and everts
upper lip; expression of sadness
Levator anguli oris - Raises corner of mouth as when
smiling and laughing
Mentalis - Raises and protrudes lower lip in drinking,
pouting, and expression of doubt; raises and wrinkles
skin of chin
Buccinator - Compresses cheeks inward as when
blowing air
Platysma - Draws angle of mouth downward as when
pouting or expression of horror
Muscles of mastication
Masseter - Elevates mandible; closes jaw
Temporalis - elevates and retracts mandible;
closes jaw
Lateral pterygoid - Depresses and protracts
mandible and moves it from side to side as
when grinding food
Medial pterygoid - Elevates mandible and
moves it from side to side as when grinding
food
Muscles that move head and neck
Sternocleidomastoid - Flexion of head and
neck; rotation of head to left or right
Trapezius (superior part) - Extends head
(as a synergist)
Scalenes (anterior, middle, and posterior -
Elevates ribs 1–2; flexion and rotation of
neck when rib 1 is fixed
Splenius capitis - Extends head; rotates
head
Semispinalis capitis - Extends head;
rotates head
Muscles that move hyoid bone and
larynx
1. Suprahyoid muscles
Digastric (2 parts) - opens mouth;
depresses mandible; elevates hyoid
bone
Stylohyoid - retracts and elevates
hyoid bone
Mylohyoid - elevates hyoid bone
during swallowing
Muscles that move hyoid bone and
larynx
2. Infrahyoid muscles
a. Sternohyoid - Depresses hyoid
bone
b. Omohyoid (2 parts) - Depresses
hyoid bone
c. Sternothyroid - Depresses larynx
d. Thyrohyoid - Depresses hyoid
bone; elevates larynx
Major Muscles of Respiration
1. Diaphragm - Flattens during
contraction, which expands thoracic
cavity and compresses abdominal
viscera during inspiration
2. External intercostals - Elevates ribs,
which expands thoracic cavity during
inspiration
3. Internal intercostals - Depresses ribs,
which compresses thoracic cavity
during forced expiration
Muscles that Move the Pectoral Girdle
1. Pectoralis minor - Pulls scapula forward and
downward; raises ribs
2. Serratus anterior - Pulls scapula anteriorly
(protracts scapula)
3. Trapezius - Rotates scapula; various fibers
raise scapula, pull scapula medially, or pull
scapula and shoulder downward
4. Rhomboid major - Retracts and elevates
scapula
5. Rhomboid minor - Retracts and elevates
scapula
6. Levator scapulae - Elevates scapula
Muscles that Move the Forearm
1. Biceps brachi - Flexes elbow and supinates
forearm and hand
2. Brachialis - Flexes elbow
3. Triceps brachii - Extends elbow
4. Brachioradialis - Flexes elbow
5. Anconeus - Extends elbow
6. Supinator - Supinates forearm and hand
7. Pronator teres - Pronates forearm and hand
8. Pronator quadratus - Pronates forearm and
hand
Muscles that Move the Hand
1. Palmaris longus (sometimes absent) - Flexes wrist
2. Flexor carpi radialis - Flexes wrist and abducts
hand
3. Flexor carpi ulnaris - Flexes wrist and adducts hand
4. Flexor digitorum superficialis - Flexes fingers and
wrist
5. Flexor digitorum profundus - Flexes fingers 2–5
6. Flexor pollicis longus - Flexes thumb
7. Extensor carpi radialis longus - Extends wrist and
abducts hand
8. Extensor carpi radialis brevis - Extends wrist and
abducts hand
Muscles that Move the Hand
9. Extensor digitorum - Extends fingers
10. Extensor digiti minimi - Extends finger 5
(little finger)
11. Extensor carpi ulnaris - Extends wrist and
adducts hand
12. Abductor pollicis longus - Abducts thumb
13. Extensor pollicis longus - Extends thumb
14. Extensor pollicis brevis - Extends thumb
15. Extensor indicis - Extends finger 2 (index
finger
Muscles of the Vertebral Column
1. Erector spinae (three columns of muscles:
iliocostalis group, longissimus group, and
spinalis group) - Maintains posture; extends
vertebral column; lateral flexion when unilateral
contractions occur
2. Semispinalis group (semispinalis capitis,
cervicis, and thoracis) - Extends head and
vertebral column; lateral flexion of neck and
vertebral column when unilateral contractions
occur
3. Quadratus lumborum - Extends vertebral
column; lateral flexion when unilateral
contractions occur
Muscles of the Abdominal Wall
1. External oblique - Tenses abdominal
wall; compresses abdominal contents;
aids in trunk rotation
2. Internal oblique - Same as external
oblique
3. Transversus abdominis - Compresses
abdominal contents
4. Rectus abdominis - Flexes vertebral
column; compresses abdominal
contents
Muscles of the Pelvic Floor
1. Levator ani - Supports pelvic viscera and
provides sphincter like action in anal canal
and vagina
2. Coccygeus - Supports pelvic viscera
3. Superficial transverse perineal muscle -
Supports pelvic viscera
4. Bulbospongiosus - Males: Assists emptying
of urethra and assists in erection of penis
Females: Constricts vagina and assists in
erection of clitoris
5. Ischiocavernosus - Males: Erects penis
Females: Erects clitoris
Muscles that Move the Leg
1. Sartorius - Flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates thigh at hip; flexes
leg at knee
2. Rectus femoris - Extends leg at knee; flexes thigh at hip
3. Vastus lateralis - Extends leg at knee
4. Vastus medialis - Extends leg at knee
5. Vastus intermedius - Extends leg at knee
6. Biceps femoris - Flexes leg at knee; rotates leg laterally; extends
thigh
7. Semitendinosus - Flexes leg at knee; rotates leg medially; extends
thigh
8. Semimembranosus - Flexes leg at knee; rotates leg medially;
extends thigh
Muscles that Move the Foot
1. Tibialis anterior - Dorsiflexion and inversion of
foot
2. Extensor digitorum longus - Extends toes 2–5
and dorsiflexion
3. Extensor hallucis longus - Extends great toe
and dorsiflexion
4. Fibularis tertius - Dorsiflexion and eversion of
foot
5. Gastrocnemius - Plantar flexion of foot and
flexes knee
6. Soleus - Plantar flexion of foot
Muscles that Move the Foot
7. Plantaris - Plantar flexion of foot and flexes knee
8. Popliteus - Unlocks knee to allow flexion; may prevent
femur dislocation in forward direction during crouching
9. Tibialis posterior - Plantar flexion and inversion of foot
10. Flexor digitorum longus - Flexes toes 2–5 and plantar
flexion and inversion of foot
11. Flexor hallucis longus - Flexes great toe and plantar
flexes foot
12. Fibularis longus - Plantar flexion and eversion of foot;
also supports arch
13. Fibularis brevis - Plantar flexion and eversion of foot
