Locomotor principles: Anatomy and physiology of skeletal muscles

Abstract

The musculature consists of individual muscles which are mainly built up of muscle cells (muscle fibres, myocytes, myotubes), and its main function is to move and support the bones of the skeleton. In human beings, the musculature is the largest organ, consists of 640 single muscles, makes up 50 % of the body weight, moves 200 bones, and has 2,200 points of attachment. Skeletal muscles are under the control of the central nervous system, the myelon, and motor nerves. Histologically, the skeletal muscle belongs to the striated muscle type. In addition to the voluntary motor function, which is the elementary task of the organ, the muscle is also required for involuntary motor control, stabilisation of joints, and heat production, but has also immunological and endocrine functions. In addition to muscle cells, a muscle is built up of a number of other cell types and tissues. The following chapter is designated to describe and discuss basic knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the human skeletal muscles in comparison with the skeletal muscle of other species.