The muscular system represents a set of muscles that make up the human body. These muscles (which are more than 630) are responsible for producing movements in the body as well as its flexibility and stability. This system is in charge of making the blood move, that the organs work correctly and the movement of the extremities of the body. Its main mission is to respond to the orders of voluntary and involuntary movements that come from the central and peripheral nervous systems (through the reflexes) respectively.
What is the muscular system?
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The muscular system of the human body consists of skeletal or somatic muscles and tendons. Muscles are fleshy structures that, together, represent 40% of the body weight of an adult individual, and tendons are elongated bands that contain collagen fibers, whose function is to ensure that the muscles are inserted into the bones.
Parts of the muscular system
The muscular and skeletal system is made up of muscles and tendons.
As noted above, the muscles are responsible for producing movements to the body, this is possible by stretching and contracting, there are three types of muscles:
Striated skeletal muscle
Its name is due to the fact that, when observed under a microscope, a series of striae can be seen that are arranged perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibers.
Smooth muscles
They lack stretch marks and their main characteristics are involuntary movements. They are normally part of intestinal viscera such as the intestines and ureters.
Cardiac muscle
Also known as myocardium, it is the muscular wall of the heart, with its contractions it determines the blood pumping action of this organ. It is made up of striated muscle fibers, similar to those of skeletal muscles, that intertwine with each other to form a network.
Tendons, on the other hand, are cords composed of collagen fibers, which at one end are firmly attached to the muscle tissue and at the other are rooted in the bones. In this way, when a muscle contracts, it pulls on its tendons, causing the distance between the bone segments in which the muscle is inserted to shorten.
Functions of the muscular system
The main function of the muscles is to develop the force that gives movement and keeps the skeleton in balance. In addition, the muscles play a very important role in the protection and retention of the internal organs, as occurs with the muscles of the inner wall of the abdomen, in the same way they intervene in the large number of metabolic processes, such as energy storage.
Diseases of the muscular system
There are a variety of diseases that can affect the human muscular system. These can cause serious problems, including disturbing the activity and mobility of some areas of the body. Its most common symptoms are pain, weakness, and even paralysis.
Among these diseases we have:
Tearing
When a tear occurs, the muscle fibers break. Depending on the size and area where this injury occurs, it can be mild, moderate or severe. When the muscle fibers break and produces a severe tear, it causes bleeding and a bruise. Minor tears cause little bleeding and pain, but movement is still possible.
Muscular dystrophies
It is a disease that manifests itself from childhood and continues through the years. This disease is very delicate, it is generally congenital and is caused by a successive deterioration of the muscle fiber. There is still no specific procedure to stop the progression of this disease, however, there are mitigating factors (therapists, massage therapists, specialized nurses) that can optimize the patient's quality of life.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
It is a disease of the nervous system that directly attacks neurons located in the brain and spinal cord, these neurons transmit messages to the muscles of the lower and upper extremities. Over time, this disease hinders the ability to move up to the chest muscles, causing respiratory insufficiencies. It usually occurs in people between 40 and 60 years old, more common in males. There is no cure, only medicines that improve and can prolong the life of the patient.
