Voluntary muscle
Voluntary Muscle
Voluntary muscle (pronunciation: /vɒləntɛri mʌsl/) refers to the muscle that can be consciously controlled by the brain. These muscles are also known as skeletal muscles or striated muscles due to their appearance under a microscope.
Etymology
The term "voluntary" comes from the Latin word "voluntas" meaning "will", and "muscle" comes from the Latin "musculus" meaning "little mouse", possibly due to the movement of muscles resembling the movement of a mouse.
Anatomy
Voluntary muscles are typically attached to the bone by tendons. They are composed of long, thin, multinucleated muscle fibers. Each fiber is a single cell and contains many myofibrils, which are the contractile units of the muscle.
Function
Voluntary muscles are responsible for all conscious movement in the body. They allow us to perform actions such as walking, running, lifting, and speaking. The contraction and relaxation of these muscles are controlled by the motor neurons in the nervous system.
Related Terms
- Involuntary muscle: These are muscles that cannot be consciously controlled. They include the muscles in the heart and digestive system.
- Smooth muscle: This is a type of involuntary muscle that is found in the walls of organs and structures such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, bronchi, uterus, urethra, and blood vessels.
- Cardiac muscle: This is a type of involuntary muscle that is found only in the heart.
- Muscle contraction: This is the process by which muscles become shorter and tighter, resulting in movement.
- Muscle relaxation: This is the process by which muscles return to their resting state after contraction.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Voluntary muscle
- Wikipedia's article - Voluntary muscle
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