LECTURE 5: HUMAN MUSCULAR SYSTEM
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
FUNCTIONS
MOBILITY
Muscles are arranged in groupings of
agonists, antagonists, and synergists that
produce and modulate movement
3 MUSCLES
● Deltoid - the large, rounded muscle
that covers your shoulder joint. The
fixator stabilizes the arm and
shortens it with contraction (prime
movers).
● Triceps (brachii) - the muscle on
the back of your upper arm. It has
three sections, hence the name
"triceps.” The triceps work in the
opposite direction of the biceps
and straighten your arm at the
elbow joint. The antagonists relax
their arms. It returns limbs to the
previous position.
● Biceps (brachial and brachialis) -
This is the muscle on the front of
your upper arm that bulges when
you flex your arm. Its main job is to
bend your elbow, but it also helps
rotate your forearm.
○ Brachialis: This deep muscle
sits under the biceps and
helps bend the elbow.
○ Coracobrachialis is another
minor muscle in the upper
arm that works with the
biceps to flex the arm at the
shoulder joint.
STABILITY
All muscles could be stabilizer muscles.
They are tasked with stabilizing the body
and extremities during multiplanar
movements, while primary movers are
the muscles doing most of the work.
4 MAIN ABDOMINAL MUSCLES
● Rectus abdominis - This is the long,
flat muscle that runs vertically
down the front of your abdomen. It
is the one that forms the familiar
“six-pack” when it is toned
 ● External obliques - These are the
muscles on the sides of your
abdomen. They run diagonally
down from your ribs to your pelvis
and help you rotate your torso
● Internal obliques - These deep
muscles are underneath the
external obliques. They also run
diagonally, but in the opposite
direction, and help you compress
your abdomen and rotate your
torso
● Transverse abdominis - the
deepest layer of muscle in your
abdomen, and it wraps around
your spine like a girdle to provide
support and stability
POSTURE
Holds the body in good posture so we
do not slouch. The main muscles in the
body responsible for maintaining posture
are the pectoral muscles (pectoralis
minor).
3 MAIN POINTS
● Tight upper traps and levator
scapula - these muscles are in the
upper back and neck. Tightness in
these muscles can contribute to
neck pain and headaches
● Weak lower traps and serratus
anterior - the lower traps are in the
middle of the back, and the
serratus anterior is on the side of
the chest. Weakness in these
muscles can lead to poor posture
and rounded shoulders.
CIRCULATION
Helps with the blood flow throughout the
body to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all
the parts
STRIATED INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE CELLS
● Cardiac muscle - This is the
involuntary muscle that makes up
the heart. It contracts rhythmically
to pump blood throughout your
body. Like skeletal muscle, cardiac
muscle is also striated.
● Smooth muscle - This involuntary
muscle is found in the walls of
hollow organs like the stomach,
intestines, bladder, and blood
vessels. It helps these organs
contract and relax to perform
various functions.
● Skeletal muscle - This is the
voluntary muscle that makes up
most of the muscles in your body. It
is attached to bones and helps you
move your limbs.
 ○ The microscopic structure of
skeletal muscle gives it a
striped appearance, which is
why it is also called striated
muscle
PARTS OF THE HEART
● Right ventricle - This is the lower
chamber on the right side of the
heart. It receives oxygen-depleted
blood from the body
● Aorta - This is the large artery that
carries oxygen-rich blood away
from the heart to the rest of the
body.
● Pulmonary artery - This artery
carries oxygen-depleted blood
from the right ventricle to the lungs
where it picks up oxygen.
● Left ventricle - This is the lower
chamber on the left side of the
heart. It receives oxygen-rich blood
from the lungs.
● Superior vena cava and inferior
vena cava - These large veins carry
oxygen-depleted blood from the
upper and lower body respectively
to the right ventricle.
● Tricuspid valve - This valve
separates the right atrium and right
ventricle. It prevents blood from
flowing backward from the ventricle
to the atrium.
● Pulmonary valve - This valve
separates the right ventricle and
pulmonary artery. It prevents blood
from flowing backward from the
artery to the ventricle.
● Mitral valve - This valve separates
the left atrium and left ventricle. It
prevents blood from flowing
backward from the ventricle to the
atrium.
● Aortic valve - This valve separates
the left ventricle and aorta. It
prevents blood from flowing
backward from the aorta to the
ventricle.
RESPIRATION
Respiration involves muscles of
inspiration (inhaling) and expiration
(exhaling)
INSPIRATION (INHALE)
The main muscles involved in inhalation
are the diaphragm and the external
intercostal muscles. The diaphragm is a
dome-shaped muscle that separates the
chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.
When it contracts, it pulls the lungs
downward, which increases the space in
the chest cavity and lungs. This decrease
in pressure allows air to flow into the
lungs. The external intercostal muscles
are located between the ribs. When they
contract, they pull the ribcage upward
and outward, which also increases the
space in the chest cavity and lungs.
EXPIRATION (EXHALE)
Expiration is normally a passive process
that relies on the natural recoil of the
lungs and chest wall. However, some
muscles can help force air out of the
lungs during forceful expiration, such as
coughing or heavy lifting. These muscles
include the internal intercostal muscles,
the abdominal muscles (including the
rectus abdominis, obliques, and
transversus abdominis), and the scalene
muscles.
DIGESTION
Help move the food to the digestive
system to get the energy that is needed
from the food. Digestion involves smooth
involuntary muscles (gastric muscles)
2 SMOOTH MUSCLE LAYERS
● Circular muscle layer - This is the
inner layer of muscle. When it
contracts, it constricts the
passageway through the intestine.
● Longitudinal muscle layer - This is
the outer layer of muscle. When it
contracts, it shortens the intestine
and pushes food forward.
Peristalsis is the involuntary wave-like
movement of the gastric muscles which
allows for food to be partly digested and
moved through the digestive tract.
URINATION
Helps remove waste from the body by
squeezing the muscles in the bladder.
Urination involves the detrusor muscles of
the bladder.
● Urinary Bladder - a muscular,
sac-like organ in the lower
abdomen that stores urine.
Urine is produced by the kidneys and
travels down two tubes called ureters to
the bladder.
CHILDBIRTH
Childbirth involves the pelvic floor
muscles
STRUCTURE
1. Arranged in bundles (fascicle)
2. Linked with nerves, bones, and
blood vessels
 3. Chemical components are water,
protein, fat, and glycogen.
4. Structural components are
connective and adipose tissues

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

HUTCHINSON-GILFORD PROGERIA
(HGPS)
Generally characterized by premature
aging.

DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Generally characterized by gradual
muscle degeneration.

GOUT ARTHRITIS
Generally characterized by
over-accumulation of uric acid crystals in
joints limiting muscle movement