Module 06 - The Skeletal Muscle System
Muscles work with bones and joints to form levers that do the work of moving the body.
There are about 640 skeletal muscles
in the human body!
Muscles are named according to their size, shape, locations, orientation of fascicles, origin and insertion, number of heads (origins), and function.
Muscles can only contract, or pull, so they usually work in opposing pairs.
The Skeletal Muscle System
Anatomy of a muscle
Tendon - Connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone
Origin - The stationary attachment point of a muscle (the top of biceps brachii)
Insertion - The mobile attachment point of a muscle (the bottom of biceps brachii)
Belly - The “muscle” part, actually contains muscle cells and is able to contract
Quick Review: 3 Types of Muscle are Skeletal, Cardiac, and Smooth
Muscle cells move when neurons send electrical signals using ionic compounds (chemicals that have a charge), which change how proteins are bound together, and cause individual cells to contract or relax, which in turn causes the entire muscle to contract or relax.
