Essay On Muscular System

The muscular system is simply fascinating for wherever you look at it. It is essentially a network of tissues that control movement of and within the body, i.e. gives movement to the human body and function to the viscera. Without the muscular system, all essential body functions may not occur. Without it, we would be a smooth and immobile pile of organs, skin and bones.

Any activity, conscious or unconscious, of our body that involves movement, strength or uniform control of a position depends on the action of the muscular system, controlled by the brain and spinal cord through a complex network of neural circuits continuously leading the commanding signals.

It is significant to mention that when we execute a movement, various muscle groups are involved in its realization. For example, an activity as routine as drinking a glass of water requires arm muscles approach the glass to the oral cavity, the throat muscles swallowing, intestinal muscle help move the liquid and the bladder muscle ejected. All of above plus muscle strain in the back, neck, head and legs that allow us to adopt an upright position, whether you are sitting or standing.

“The human body contains 640 different muscles” each one performing a specific function. Whole muscle contributes to “40 – 50% of our body weight” (Srivastava & Chosdol, 2007). “The muscular system consists of highly specialized cells called muscle fibers” (Srivastava & Chosdol, 2007). The features of each muscle fiber define the strength with which it contracts and the specific function it does.

Anatomically and functionally, muscle fiber can be divided into three types: skeletal, smooth and cardiac. Below we summarize in a table the different characteristics of each type of muscle fibe...

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...ested, varies with the specific type of disease. In this disease the muscles that become weaker are mostly voluntary muscles. The weakness is usually symmetrical, i.e. that occurs more or less equal intensity in both sides of the body. In addition, muscle wasting is progressive, that is, its intensity increases with time. The weakening is painless (painless), but sometimes cramps and stiffness are presented. In some cases, the disease is accompanied by mental retardation. “Some varieties of the disease can also affect also affect the heart, gastrointestinal system, endocrine glands, spine, eyes, brain, and other organ” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011).

Currently, the muscular dystrophy is incurable. Sometimes steroid therapy slows the progressive course of muscle weakness. Treatment is aimed at maintaining the overall health, mobility, and the quality of life as possible.