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Animals: Human Muscular System

Author: Nathan Lampson

 

The muscular system is a series of hundreds of muscles in the body that allow you to move.  

 

There are three types of muscle in the human body that each function differently.

 

Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle in the body allows for movement and support.  People have control over their skeletal muscles and can choose when to engage them.

 

Skeletal muscle is striated, which means it is made of parallel fibers.

 

Smooth Muscle

Muscle fibers contract to regulate internal organs, the bladder, and blood vessels.  People cannot consciously control smooth muscle.

 

Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac muscle composes the heart and is characterized by automatic contractions.  Cardiac muscles cannot be consciously controlled.

 

Like skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is striated and made of tiny parallel fibers.

 

This image displays a heart which uses cardiac muscle to contract.

Animals: Human Muscular System