MUSCULAR SYSTEM

- refers to the skeletal system

- constitutes 40-50% of total body weight
- A specialized tissue which converts chemical energy into mechanical work, thus muscles is instrument of
action.

Functions:
1. Movement
2. locomotion
3. general posture
4. thermogenesis (production of heat)
o for the maintenance of normal body temperature
o generates 85% of total body heat

Characteristics:
- It has 5 principal characteristics that enables it to carry out its functions, thus contributes to homeostasis.

1. Excitability/Irritability – ability to respond to certain stimuli

2. Conductivity – ability to transmit impulses
3. Contractility – ability to shorten and thicken to generate to do work
4. Extensibility – ability to be stretched without damaging the tissue
5. Elasticity – ability to return to its original form and shaped after contraction

Stimulus – is any changed in the environment of a tissue, which causes it to react. Ex. Mechanical, chemical,
thermal, electrical

Classification of stimulus:

1. minimal/ liminal (threshold) – a stimulus which possesses just sufficient strength to produce a response
2. sub-minimal/ subliminal (sub-threshold) – any stimulus of lesser strength

Muscle tonus – a persistent or continuous state of slight muscle contraction.

Connective tissue components:

- surround and protects the muscle tissue

1. Fascia (bandage) – a large sheet-like connective tissue that covers the entire muscle.

a. Superficial fascia (subcutaneous layer/hypodermis) – found deep to the skin and surface of the muscle
that functions for storage of water and fats, reduces the rate of heat loss, mechanical protection against
traumatic blows, and serves as a framework for blood vessels and nerves to enter and exit muscles.

b. Deep fascia – found inside the muscle and separating them into functional group. There are 3 layers of
tissue that extends from the deep fascia to further protect and strengthens skeletal muscle :

Epimycium – outermost layer, envelops the whole muscle.

Perimycium – surrounds bundles of 10-100 or more individual muscle fiber
Fascicles – bundles of muscle fibers
Endomycium – penetrating into each fascicle and separating individual muscle fiber from 1
another.

2. tendons – cord of dense connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone

3. aponeurosis – broad, flattened connective tissue that attaches muscle to another muscle.

1
Parts of the muscle:

1. point of attachments
a. point of origin – fixed and proximal in position
b. point of insertion – movable and distal in position

Heads – muscles that may have more than 1 pt of origin

Slips – muscles that may have more than 1 pt of insertion

2. belly – the thickest and fleshy portion of a muscle

Muscle contraction:
The movement of skeletal muscles is explained by the sliding filament theory. Skeletal muscle cells are made
up of fibers, which in turn are composed of tiny filaments. When the muscle is stimulated by a nerve impulse,
the filaments slide past each other and the muscle shortens.

Types of muscle contractions:

1. Isometric (equal distance) contractions – the amount of tension increases during the contraction process, but
the length of the muscle does not change.
- Responsible for the constant length of the postural muscles of the body,
Ex. Muscles of the back.

2. Isotonic (equal tension) – the amount of tension produced by the muscle is constant during contraction, but
the length of muscle decreases.
- ex. movements of the arms and fingers
a. concentric contraction – isotonic contraction in which muscle tension increases as the muscle shortens
b. eccentric contraction – isotonic contraction in which tension is maintained as the muscle lengthens.

Nomenclature (naming) of skeletal muscles:

1. according to direction of muscle fibers – direction relative to the midline of the body
a. rectus ex. Rectus abdominis
b. transverses ex. Transverses abdominis
c. oblique ex. Externa/internal oblique

2. according to location – structure near which a muscle is found

a. frontalis
b. tibialis anterior
c. tibialis posterior

3. according to size
a. maximus – largest ex. Gluteus maximus
b. minimus – smallest ex. Gluteus minimus
c. longus – longest ex. Adductor longus
d. brevis – short ex. Peroneus brevis
e. major – large ex. Pectoralis major
f. minor small ex. Pectoralis minor

4. according to shape
a. deltoid – triangular in shape ex. Deltoid
b. trapezius – trapezoid ex. Trapezius
c. serratus – serrated ex. Serratus anterior
d. rhomboideus – diamond shaped ex. Rhomboideus major/minor

2
 5. according to number of origins
a. biceps – 2 origins ex. Biceps brachii
b. triceps – 3 origins ex. Triceps brachii
c. quadriceps – 4 origins ex. Quadriceps femoris

6. according to origin and insertion ex. Sternocleidomastoid

7. according to action (principal action of the muscle)

a. flexor – decreases the angle of a joint
b. extensor – increases the angle of a joint
c. abductor – moves a bone away from the body’s midline
d. adductor – moves a bone closer to body’s midline
e. levator – upward movement
f. depressor – downward movement
g. supinator – turns the palm upward or anteriorly
h. pronator – turns the palm downward or posteriorly
i. rotator – moves the bone around its longitudinal axis
j. tensor – makes a body part more rigid

Group action/s of the muscle:

1. Prime movers (agonists) – group of muscle that performs a desired action, ex. Biceps and brachialis
2. Antagonists – the action is opposite to the prime movers, ex. Triceps brachii to biceps brachii.
3. Synergists – muscle that helps the prime movers to function efficiently which serve a steady movement thus
preventing unnecessary movements., ex. Extensor muscles of the wrist as synergist; flexor muscles of the
fingers as prime movers
4. Fixators – stabilizes the origin of prime movers, to act efficiently.

Principal Skeletal Muscles:

I. Head and Neck

A. Muscles of facial expressions

Muscles Action

Frontalis draws scalp anteriorly, raises eyebrows,

wrinkling of the forehead horizontally

Orbicularis Oculi closes the eyelids, causes the “crows feet”

wrinkles in the skin of the eyes

3
 Zygomaticus draws the angle of the mouth upward
and outward, as in smiling and
laughing

Risorius draws the angle of the mouth laterally as in

sardonic smile

Buccinator major cheek muscle, blowing or kissing

(trumpeter’s muscle) muscle, compresses the cheeks as in
suckling

Levator labii superioris elevates upper lip

Depressor labii inferioris depresses lower lip

Depressor anguli oris depresses angle of the mouth

Mentalis elevates and protrudes lower lip

Orbicularis oris closes lips, protrudes lips, shaped the

lips during speech, compresses the lips
against teeth

Levator palpebrae superioris elevates the upper eyelid, opens the

Eye

Corrugator supercilii draws the eyebrows inferiorly as in

‘frowning’
B. Muscles of mastication

Masseter elevates the jaw

Temporalis elevates and retracts the jaw

Lateral pterygoideus protrudes the jaw

Medial pterygoideus moves the jaw from side to side

C. Muscles of the eyeball

Superior rectus directs the eyeball upwards

Inferior rectus directs the eyeball downwards

Medial rectus directs the eyeball medially

Lateral rectus directs the eyeball laterally

Superior oblique rotates the eyeball laterally and

downward

Inferior oblique rotates the eyeball laterally and upwards

D. Muscles that move the head and neck

Sternocleidomastoid (praying muscle) together – flex the head forward

4
 Affected in stiff neck (torticollis) Individual – bend the head laterally
Platysma retracts the angle of the mouth and jaw;
It is responsible for the downward sag of mouth
as in grief and exhaustion.

Trapezius extends head and neck

E. Muscles that move the shoulder

Rhomboids retract scapula

Serratus anterior protract scapula

Pectoralis minor depresses scapula

Pectoralis major flexes shoulder, adducts arm

Teres major extends shoulder, adducts, rotates arm

Latissimus dorsi (swimmer’s muscle) extends shoulder, adducts arm

Infraspinatus extends, rotates shoulder

Supraspinatus rotator abducts arm

Cuffs
Teres minor muscle adducts, rotates arm

Deltoid (injection site) major abductor of the arm, flexes, extends

Shoulder

II. Muscles of the trunk

A. Muscles of the abdominal wall

Rectus abdominis compress

abdomen to aid in defecation, urination,
forced expiration and child birth.
External oblique compresses abdomen, bends and
Internal oblique rotates vertebral column laterally

Transversus abdominis compresses abdomen

B. Muscles used in breathing

5
 Diaphragm chief muscle of respiration

External intercostals expand/elevate thorax in inspiration

Internal intercostals compress/depress thorax in expiration

III. Upper extremity muscles

1. Triceps brachii & Anconeous extends forearm

2. Biceps brachii flexes, supinates forearm

Primary flexors of the elbow
3. Brachialis flexes forearm

4. Brachioradialis flexes, pronates forearm

5. Pronator (teres & quadratus) pronate forearm

6. Supinator supinates forearm

7. Flexor carpi ulnaris

Flexes, abducts wrists
8. Flexor carpi radialis

9. Flexor digitorum flex fingers

9. Extensor carpi ulnaris

Extends, abducts wrists
10. Extensor carpi radialis

11. Extensor digitorum extends fingers

IV. Lower extremity muscles

1. Iliopsoas chief flexor of the hip

2. Tensor fasciae latae flexes hip; abducts thigh

3. Gluteus maximus (largest muscle) chief extensor of the hip

4. Gluteus medius (injection site) abducts thigh

6
5. Quadriceps femoris group (extensor muscles)
a. rectus femoris
b. vastus lateralis (injection site) extends knee
c. vastus medialis
d. vastus intermedius

6. Hamstring group (flexor muscles)

a. biceps femoris
b. semimembranous flexes knee, extends hip
c. semitendinosus

7. Sartorius (longest muscle) flexes hip and knee, rotates thigh

Tailor’s muscle

8. Adductor group
a. adductor longus adducts thigh
b. gracilis

9. Tibialis anterior extends (dorsiflexes) ankle (foot)

10. Gastrocnemius (calf muscle)

(Plantar) flexes ankle (foot)
11. Soleus

12. Peroneus (3) flex, evert ankle (foot)

altor