Dorothy FarrarMuscles (musculature)
Muscles are not only part of the ideal of beauty these days. They have numerous properties and functions that are so relevant that life without muscles would not be possible.
Definition
Muscles are not just muscles. Depending on their location and their tasks, different types such as smooth and striated muscles are differentiated. Furthermore, it can work voluntarily or involuntarily. For example, the heart is made up of involuntary muscle fibers . In this way, the conscious actuation of the muscle to exercise the heartbeat is not necessary. This is regulated independently by the body.
Anatomy
Muscle build-up cannot be generalized. The different groupings show anatomical differences, which are based in particular on the arrangement of the fibers. Muscle strands can be observed under the microscope. The bundles are muscle fibers lying together.
A muscle fiber is in turn built up by sarcomeres. Sarcomeres are the smallest functional unit within a muscle. Their length is around 2 to 2.5 microns. Depending on how the sarcomeres are arranged, their structure arises. A look at the sarcomeres reveals whether the muscle is smooth or striated. The muscle fibers are in a parallel arrangement, they are formed by myofibrils. The length of the fibers can reach several centimeters, while the thickness varies depending on the individual training level.
Blood vessels and nerves can be located between the muscle fibers. The surrounding connective tissue divides the fibers into bundles. A muscle bundle consists of about 10 to 20 muscle fibers. The individual bundles are separated by additional connective tissue . In skeletal muscle , about 10 to 40 bundles form a muscle. The outer covering of skeletal muscle, made of connective tissue, is surrounded by another muscle membrane. Skeletal muscle is constructed in such a way that each unit is made up of smaller elements.
Function
The tasks of the muscles relate primarily to one thing: movement. Without the tight connections between muscles, tendons and bones , people would not be able to move their limbs in any way. Furthermore, the heart muscle ensures that blood flows continuously through the body without any conscious action being required.
In addition to the cardiac muscles, the skeletal muscles are particularly important for everyday life. This fits closely to the various bones and, through cooperation with other elements, ensures that arms and legs can be raised and lowered through conscious control. Overall, about 40 percent of body weight can be traced back to the muscles. This means that there is a greater percentage of muscle than bone.
Depending on the physical condition, the part may go up or down. In addition to enabling all movements, the musculature contributes to the support of the skeleton and ligaments . Muscles are always differentiated into players and opponents. For example, if you consciously raise your upper arm, your biceps will contract while your triceps relax at the same time. As the forearm sinks, the biceps relax while the tension in the triceps increases.
Tensing a muscle always results from a shortening of the affected muscles. The complex structure of the muscle gives it the ability to contract. As soon as the brain receives the command to raise the arm, the building blocks of the myofibrils slide into one another, causing the muscle to shorten and thus tighten.
Diseases
Muscle disorders can be harmless or serious. So most people have already made acquaintance with sore muscles. It has not yet been possible to scientifically explain why exactly the unpleasant sensations arise after an unusual physical activity. For example, one theory looks for the cause of over-acidification of the muscles. In general, however, it is a harmless condition. The symptoms usually disappear on their own after a few days.
The situation is different in the case of illnesses in the context of which there is an acute breakdown of existing muscles. The underlying cause can be wide-ranging: a total of around 600 to 800 neurological diseases that lead to muscle wasting come into question. As the disease progresses, this in turn manifests itself in shortness of breath or dependence on a wheelchair.
The disease can be caused by a variety of reasons. For example, the muscle cells themselves die, the nerve cells or the transmission of impulses between neutrons is disrupted. Such a disease is usually fatal after severe symptoms.
Everyday office life also poses challenges for the muscles. One-sided movements and a lack of physical activity can lead to tension in the muscles. In some cases, the affected muscle bundles harden. However, the symptoms are usually not permanent.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.