Muscular system
Muscular System
The Muscular System (pronunciation: /ˈmʌskjʊlər ˈsɪstəm/) is an organ system consisting of skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscles. It permits movement of the body, maintains posture, and circulates blood throughout the body.
Etymology
The term "muscular" is derived from the Latin "musculus" meaning "little mouse" possibly because of the shape of certain muscles or because contracting muscles look like mice moving under the skin. "System" comes from the Latin word "systema", meaning a whole compounded of several parts or members.
Components
The Muscular System is composed of three types of muscles:
- Skeletal Muscle - These are muscles which are attached to bones, and aid in voluntary movement.
- Smooth Muscle - These muscles are found in the walls of organs and structures such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, bronchi, uterus, urethra, and blood vessels.
- Cardiac Muscle - This type of muscle is found only in the heart and is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.
Functions
The primary functions of the Muscular System include:
- Movement - Muscles are the "engine" that your body uses to propel itself.
- Stability - Muscles stabilize joints, helping to prevent injuries like sprains and dislocations.
- Posture - Muscles help maintain body posture.
- Circulation - The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body.
- Respiration - Muscles in the chest assist in breathing.
Related Terms
- Myology - The study of the muscular system.
- Myocyte - A type of cell found in muscle tissue.
- Myofibril - A basic rod-like unit of a muscle cell.
- Sarcomere - The basic unit of a muscle's cross-striated myofibril.
- Tendon - A flexible but inelastic cord of strong fibrous collagen tissue attaching a muscle to a bone.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Muscular system
- Wikipedia's article - Muscular system
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