The Muscular System- Introduction

Muscles are responsible for all of the movements of the body. Without muscles a person
cannot move, speak, breathe, digest, and move food, or pump blood.

Each muscle is made up of long slender cells called fibers. Muscles produce their movement by
the shortening of these fibers (also called contraction). Skeletal muscles are under voluntary control,
whereas muscles of the heart and other internal organs function automatically. Either type of muscle
must receive a nerve impulse before it will contract.

Skeletal muscle fibers are attached to strong connective cords called tendons, and the tendons
are, in turn, attached to bones. The two places where a muscle is attached to bone are called the origin
and the insertion. The origin is located on the bone that remains relatively stationary and the insertion
is located on the bone that moves when the muscle contracts. As a muscle contracts, the insertion
moves toward the origin.

Skeletal muscles can pull, but they cannot push. Therefore, muscles must work in pairs. Thus,
for each muscle there is another that opposes it. For example, the biceps muscle flexes (bends) the
elbow while the triceps muscle extends (straightens) the elbow. When one muscle contracts, the
opposing muscle relaxes.

Skeletal muscles are named by using seven factors or criteria, some use one, others use several.
The seven criteria used to name muscles are: location, such as the temporalis (named for the temporal
bone of the skull); action, such as flexors and adductors; direction of fibers, like the obliques and rectus;
shape, such as deltoid and rhomboid; number of origins, like biceps and triceps; origin and insertion, like
the sternocleidomastoid; and relative size, like maximus and longus.

Questions
1. Muscle cells are called muscle ___fibers_____
2. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones by ____origin and the insertion_______
3. The __insertion____ moves towards the origin.
4. Skeletal muscles cannot ___push___ they can only ____pull___.
5. A muscle that bends a joint is called a __skeletal___ muscle.

Activity
1. On both the anterior and posterior view long Muscular Activity Sheets, write your name
and class period in the right corner of the side with that has been hole punched.
 The Muscular System- Three Kinds of Muscle Tissue
The three kinds of muscle tissue are: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Under voluntary control,
skeletal muscles produce movement by pulling on bones. The muscles of the face, for example, do not
necessarily move bones; they pull on bones. Skeletal muscles also give form to the body. Viewed under
a microscope, they appear striped and so are referred to as striated. Skeletal muscle fibers are about the
same diameter as human hair and are longer than either cardiac or smooth muscle. The fibers are
united into bundles and covered with a transparent membrane. The fibers are connected to the bones
by tendons. Skeletal muscles are capable of strong contractions for a short time. If it were not for the
contractions of over 400 skeletal muscles, movement, and even talking and breathing, would be
impossible.

Cardia muscle makes up the wall of the heart. Thus, the heart is actually a hollow muscle.
Operating like a pump, the heart contracts automatically (involuntarily) over 100,000 times a day. With
each contraction blood is forced out of the heart and into the arteries of the body. The muscle fibers
forming the heart are smaller than those of skeletal muscles and the ends of the fibers are fused
together. This gives the heart great strength. Cardiac muscle, like skeletal muscle, is striated.

Smooth muscle is found in the walls of blood vessels, most of the internal organs, and the eyes.
The contractions are slow but capable of being sustained for long periods of time. The muscle fibers are
small and pointed. Each fiber has a nucleus and there are no stripes, hence the name smooth. Two of
the functions of smooth muscle include the movement of food through the digestive system and the
opening and closing of the pupil of the eye in response to light conditions. Smooth muscle operates
involuntarily.

Questions
1. __skeletal___ muscle is voluntarily controlled.
2. ___smooth___ muscle is found in the walls of blood vessels.
3. Heart muscle is sometimes called ___cardiac___ muscle.
4. ___skeletal__ muscles produce movement by pulling on bones.

Activity
1. On the anterior view long Muscular Sheet, color the three muscle fiber types red.
2. Color the nuclei black.
3. Label the striations in the skeletal and cardiac fibers.
 The Muscular System- Anterior View Part 1
Facial Muscles: The principal muscles of the head are those concerned with facial expression and
chewing. The facial muscles include nearly circular ones around the eyes, which are used for squinting
and circular ones around the lips used when whistling. Other facial muscles allow a person to smile,
sneer, grin, and frown.

Masseter Muscles: There are several muscles used in chewing. All are attached to the mandible or
lower jaw. Two of the largest of these are the masseters. They are insert near the angle of the jaw and
originate on the sides of the cranium.

Sternocleidomastoids: These prominent muscles extend along the anterior lateral neck. They draw the
head towards the shoulder and rotate the chin upwards. If they become injured, they often produce a
condition we call a stiff neck.

Pectoralis Major Muscles: These fan-shaped muscles are found bilaterally to the sternum (breastbone).
Their action is to horizontally adduct the arms across the chest, bringing the arms and shoulders anterior
and rotating the arms towards the middle of the body. These muscles are used by shot putters and
swimmers on the downward stroke.

Biceps Brachii: These large muscles form the front of the upper arms. These are the muscles generally
used when a person wants to show how strong they are. The action is to flex the elbow and at the same
time impart a slight rotary motion to the forearm. This rotary motion makes it possible for a person to
use a screwdriver. They are opposed by the triceps muscles which are located posterior on the upper
arms.

Deltoids: These muscles are named for their shape, like a triangle or delta. They cover the shoulders
and help abduct the shoulders.

Questions
1. The masseters are attached to the lower jaw or ___mandible____
2. The ___biceps brachii___ muscle flexes the elbow.
3. An injured _____ Sternocleidomastoids _____ muscle often causes a stiff neck.
4. The ______Pectoralis major_____ muscles are bilateral to the sternum.
5. ____facial___ muscles are used when a person grins.

Activity
1. On the anterior view sheet, color each muscle listed the correct color. Be sure to color the
muscle on both the right and left sides of the body, and if the muscle can be seen on the
posterior view, color it there as well. Color the (1) Deltoid blue, the (2) Pectoralis Major
purple, and the (3) Biceps Brachii green.
2. Label all the above colored muscles on the anterior view.
3. Label the Deltoid on the posterior view.
 The Muscular System-Anterior View Part 2
Rectus Abdominus: This muscle runs from the pubic bone of the anterior pelvis to the lower ribs. This
muscle helps a person have a flat stomach by compressing the internal organs. It also flexes the trunk
and can be used to bend the trunk laterally. It is also of importance in expelling fecal matter from the
rectum and urine from the urinary bladder.

Quadriceps: This is a muscle group containing four muscles which is where the name Quadriceps comes
from, meaning four heads. The four muscles that make up this group are the Vastus Medialis, Vastus
Lateralis, Vastus Intermetiate, and the Rectus Femoris. This muscle group originates from the proximal
femur and the pelvis and insert on the tibia by way of the Patellar Tendon. It action is to extend the
knee, as well as to help flex the hip.

Adductors: These muscles are found on the medial side of the thighs and are used to press the thighs
together. These muscles are used extensively when riding a horse.

Sartorius Muscles: These are long narrow muscles that run from the spine downward across the entire
thigh until they end at the proximal tibias. They are used when a person sits, especially cross-legged.

Tibialis Anterior: These lower leg muscles oppose the action of the gastrocnemius of the calves. They
are located just outside the tibias. Their origin is on the shinbones and they insert on the tarsals (ankle
bones).

Questions
1. The ____sartorius___ muscles are used when a person sits down.
2. The ____rectus abdominus____helps to keep a flat stomach.
3. The rectus femoris belongs to the __quadriceps__ muscle group.
4. The ___adductors____ muscles can keep you from falling off a horse.
5. The ____tibialis anterior___ has its origin on the shinbone and insertion on the tarsals.

Activity
1. On the anterior view sheet, color each muscle listed the correct color. Be sure to color the
muscle on both the right and left sides of the body, and if the muscle can be seen on the
posterior view, color it there as well. Color the (4) Rectus Abdominus yellow, and the
(5) Quadriceps orange.
2. Label all the above colored muscles on the anterior view.

The Muscular System- Posterior View Part 1

Trapezius: This is a large muscle which moves the shoulders. It helps elevate, retract, and depress the
shoulders. Their origin is on the cervical and thoracic vertebrae and base of the skull, while they insert
on the scapula.

Triceps Brachii: These muscles extend the lower arm. Their origin is on scapula and humerus. Their
insertion is on the ulna of the lower arm. These muscles oppose the biceps and are located on the
posterior arm. They are sometimes called the boxer’s muscles as they extend the elbow when a blow is
delivered.

Forearm Extensors: This is a series of muscles that extend the hand. Their origins are on the humerus
and the insertion is on the metacarpals.

Tendons of the Hand: These long tendons connect the many muscles of the forearm to the wrist and
fingers permitting a wide range of movements without the having a lot of muscle mass in the hands
themselves.

Latissimus Dorsi: These muscles of the lower back originate on the lumbar vertebrae and pelvis and
insert on the humerus. They are used to bring the arm down as in swimming. They are also used to
keep good posture.

Questions
1. The ___trapezius___muscles elevate the shoulders.
2. The ___triceps brachii__ have their insertion on the ulna of the lower arm.
3. The __tendons___ of the hand give the hands their versatility.
4. The __latissimus dorsi___ are used to keep good posture.

Activity
1. On the posterior view sheet, color each muscle listed the correct color. Be sure to color the
muscle on both the right and left sides of the body, and if the muscle can be seen on the
anterior view, color it there as well. Color the (6) Trapezius brown, the (7) Triceps Brachii
orange, and the (8) Latissimus Dorsi blue.
2. Label all the above colored muscles on the posterior view.
3. Label the Trapezius on the anterior view.

The Muscular System- Posterior View Part 2

External Oblique Muscles: These compress the abdomen helping to keep the stomach flat. They help
with trunk rotation as well. The origin is on the ribs and the insertion is on the pelvis.

Gluteus Maximus Muscles: These large muscles are located at the posterior pelvis and their action is to
extend the hip, with a little external rotation added in. They are called maximus because they are part
of the Gluteal Muscle Group, which also includes a medius and a minimus. The Gluteus Maximus
originates on the pelvis and inserts on the femurs. These muscles are commonly called the buttocks and
are needed to stand, walk, and run.

Hamstring Muscle Group: This muscle group contains three muscles; the Semitendonosis, the
Semimembranosis, and the Biceps Femoris. They are located on the posterior thigh and are responsible
for knee flexion and assist in hip extension. The origin for all three muscles are on the inferior pelvis and
two insert on the medial tibia, while the third (biceps femoris) inserts on the lateral side. These muscles
are often injured by sprinting without proper warm-up.

Gastrocnemius Muscles: The larger of two muscles that make up the “calf”. The Gastrocnemius
originates on the posterior femur, just superior to the knee, and inserts on the calcaneus (heel bone) via
the Achilles Tendon. The action performed by these muscles is ankle plantarflexion, when the knee is
straight. This allows ballet dancers to stay on point.

Soleus Muscles: The smaller of two muscles that make up the “calf”. The soleus originates on the
posterior Tibia and Fibula and shares the Achilles Tendon to insert on the calcaneus. They perform
plantarflexion of the ankle, when the knee is bent. This is used for things like running and jumping.

Tendons of the Foot: These tendons connect the muscles of the lower leg to the ankles and toes. They
permit the wide range of motions associated with the foot while keeping the bulky part of the muscle
out of the foot.

Questions
1. The ___gluteus maximus muscle___ is often called the buttocks.
2. The ___hamstring muscle___ is a muscle group containing three muscles that flex the knee.
3. The ___gastrocnemius muscles___ is the larger muscle of the calf.
4. The ___calf___ connects the Gastrocnemius and the ___Achilles tendon___ to the calcaneus.
5. The __tendons___ of the foot connect the muscles of the lower leg to the ankles and toes.

Activity
1. On the posterior view sheet, color each muscle listed the correct color. Be sure to color the
muscle on both the right and left sides of the body, and if the muscle can be seen on the
anterior view, color it there as well. Color the (9) Gluteus Maximus green, the (10) Hamstrings
purple, the (11) Gastrocnemius yellow, and the (12) Soleus orange
2. Label all the above colored muscles on the posterior view.
3. Label the Gastrocnemius and the Soleus on the anterior view.
4. On both the anterior and posterior views color all remaining muscles red.