The Muscular System
A. Functions of the Muscular System
- Movement is an important function of the muscular system. They are also important for protection, stability, and maintaining body posture.
- A muscle is made of strong tissue that can contract in an orderly way.
- Muscles that are attached to bones enable your skeleton to move. a. Muscles that are attached to bones support the body and help it maintain balance. b. Tendons work with muscles to help keep joints in place when the body moves.
- Some muscles that are not attached to bone cause internal organs and blood to move throughout the body. They also make the heart beat and hair stand on end.
- Muscles protect the body by acting like a layer of protection for bones and internal organs.
- Shivering is when muscles contract rapidly and change chemical energy to heat energy. The heat energy helps raise your body’s temperature.
B. Types of Muscles
- Muscles that are attached to bones are skeletal muscles. They are also called striated muscles, muscles that are under conscious control.
- Skeletal muscles work by pulling on bones.
- Hypertrophy increases the size of muscle cells and makes the entire muscle larger and stronger.
- Smooth and cardiac muscles cannot be consciously controlled.