The Muscular

System

The Muscular System

Major Muscles in the body include

Teres
Major

Trapezius

Deltoids
Pectoralis
Major

Latissimus
Dorsi
Triceps

Biceps

Obligues

Tibialis
Anterior

Rectus
Abdominis

Gluteus
Maximus

Rectus
Femoris

Erector
Spinae

Gastrocnemi
us
Soleus

Major Muscles
Muscle

Location

Function

Origin

Insertion

Deltoids

Found in the
upper part of
the body
which covers
the
shoulders.

Allows your
arms to be
raised in all
directions at
the shoulder.

Clavicle
Scapula
Acromion

Humerus

Pectoralis
Major

Found in the
upper part of
the chest at
the front.

Allows your
arms to be
raised up,
sideways and
across the
chest .

Sternum
Clavicle
Rib Cartilage

Humerus

Biceps

Found at the
top of each
arm at the
front.

Allows your
arms to be
bent at the
elbows.

Scapula

Radius

Rectus
Abdominis

Found at the
front of the
body, just
below the
Pectorals.

Allows your
spine to bend
forward as
your
Abdominals
are pulled in.

Pubic Crest
Symphysis

Xiphoid
Process

Major Muscles
Muscl
e
Teres
Major

Location

Function

Origin

Insertion

Found in the
underside of
the arm
between the
shoulder and
the elbow.

Allows
movement to
your arms and
helps the
Latissimus
Dorsi to move
arms.

Posterior
surface of
the Scapula

Intertubercul
ar Sulcus of
the Humerus

Obliques

Found in the
upper part of
the body in the
lower torso.

Allows your
spine to bend
forward as
your
Abdominals
are pulled in
and rotate the
spine.

Pubic Crest
Iliac Crest

Fleshy strips
to lower
eight Ribs

Rectus
Femoris

Found in the
upper part of
the leg at the
front.

Is connected
to the hips and
allow the leg
to flex of
extend.

Ilium
Femur

Tibia
Fibula

Tibialis
Anterior

Found in the
upper part of
body in leg at
the front.

Allows your
legs and feet
to move and
your toes to
extend.

Lateral
Condyle

Tendon to
surface of
Medical
Cuneiform

Major Muscles
Locatio
n

Function

Triceps

Found at
the top of
each arm
at the back.

Allows your
arms to
straighten out
at the elbows.

Soleus

Found in
the lower
leg on the
back.

Allows you to
push off the
ground while
walking and
standing on
toes.

Tibia
Fibula

Calcaneius

Trapezius

Found in
the upper
part of the
body at the
back,
covers the
chest.

Rotate and
hold the
shoulders,
moves head
sideways and
back.

Continuous
Insertion
along
Acromion

Occipital
bone and all
Thoracic
Vertebrae

Gastrocnemi
us

Found in
the lower
part of the
leg at the
back. Also
called Calf
Muscles.

Allows your
feet to
straighten out
so you can
stand on
tiptoes.

Femur

Calcaneius

Muscle

Origin
Humerus
Scapula

Insertion

Olecranon
Process

Major Muscles
Muscl
e

Location

Function

Origin

Insertion

Latissimu
s Dorsi

Found at the
back of the
body on either
side of the
chest.

Pull your arms

at the
shoulders and
behind your
back.

Vertebrae
Iliac Crest

Humerus

Gluteus
Maximus

Found in the
lower part of
the body which
makes up the
bottom.

Allows the legs

to pull back at
the hips.

Ilium
Sacrum
Coccyx

Femur

Erector
Spinae

Found running
down the back
of the body.

Allows the
back to
straighten and
gives a side to
side rotation.

Cervical
Vertebrae
Thoracic
Vertebrae
Lumbar
Vertebrae

Cervical
Vertebrae
Thoracic
Vertebrae
Lumbar
Vertebrae

Types of Muscles
There are 3 Types of Muscles in the body

1. Cardiac Muscle Heart.

2. Involuntary Muscle
Stomach, etc.

3. Voluntary Muscle
Biceps, etc

Cardiac Muscle
There is only one Cardiac Muscle in the body; your
Heart.
As we need our heart to pump blood around our bodies to live, it
means that the Cardiac Muscle is continually working: even when
you are asleep.
As the Cardiac Muscle works without you knowing, it means you
have no conscious control and therefore it fulfils constant
contraction.
When your heart contracts, it pumps blood around your body
provided by the coronary artery (its own blood supply).
The Cardiac Muscle is structured with many interlocking cardiac
muscles cells which contain its own nucleus.

Also known as
theKnow?
Did You
Myocardium.

Involuntary Muscle
There are several Involuntary Muscles in the body, these
include: Arteries, Veins, Stomach, Intestines, etc.
Involuntary Muscles work without you knowing, meaning that you
have no conscious control: even when you are asleep.
As Involuntary Muscles are found in the digestive, circulatory and
urinary systems they help you to push food or blood around your
body.
Involuntary Muscles act so the muscle fibres contract
consecutively rather than at the same time which causes a
wavelike effect.
Involuntary Muscles are structured with one nucleus per cell, and
are usually short; they normally produce weaker contractions.

Also known as
Did Smooth
You Know?
Muscles.

Voluntary Muscle
There are several Voluntary Muscles in the body, these
include: Biceps, Triceps, Quads, Hamstrings, Soleus, etc.
Voluntary Muscles are under voluntary control which means you
have conscious control over them to decide when to contract
them.
Voluntary Muscles are the largest group of muscles in the body
and are attached to bones. They enable the skeleton to move.
Voluntary Muscles fibres are structured in row, therefore they are
striated or striped because of their appearances.
Voluntary Muscles contractions can vary to produce powerful, fast
movements or small precision actions.

Also known as
Did Skeletal
You Know?
Muscles.

Types of Muscles
Comparison
Involuntary

Cardiac Muscle

Unlike Involuntary Muscles, there

is only one Cardiac Muscle in the
body: your heart. However similar
to Involuntary Muscles, the
Cardiac Muscle work with out you
knowing, as you have no
conscience control, therefore they
are continually contracting. As the
Cardiac Muscle is the heart, it
needs to produce powerful
contractions to be able to pump
blood around the whole body. On
the other hand Involuntary
Muscles produce weaker
contractions. The Cardiac Muscle
is stripy and structured with many
interlocking cardiac cells, whereas
Involuntary Muscles in not striated
and are usually short. However
both types of muscles have one
nucleus per muscle cell.

Muscle
Involuntary Muscles are similar to
Voluntary Muscles because there
are several of each in the body.
However unlike Voluntary Muscles
where you have control over when
they contract, you have no
conscience control over your
Involuntary Muscles as they work
without you knowing. Involuntary
Muscles produces weaker
contractions, whereas in contrast
Voluntary Muscles can produce
powerful fast movements or small
precise movements. Involuntary
Muscles are structured as short
with one nucleus per cell, they are
not stripy. On the other hand
Voluntary Muscles are striated and
therefore appear in rows. They are
similar with one nucleus per
muscle cell.

Voluntary Muscle

There are several Voluntary

Muscles in the body, whereas
there is only one Cardiac Muscle:
the heart. Unlike the Cardiac
Muscle, which you have no
conscience control over, you have
control over your Voluntary
Muscles and can decide when to
contract them. Both Cardiac and
Voluntary Muscles are similar
because they both produce
powerful contractions, however
Voluntary Muscles can also
produce smaller, more precise
actions as well. Voluntary Muscles
cells are structured in rows and
therefore appear striated. Like
Voluntary Muscles, the Cardiac
Muscle appear stripy as they are
structure with many interlocking
muscles cells. Both Voluntary and
Cardiac Muscles cells have a
nucleus.

Types of Muscle Fibres

We have 2 Types of Muscle Fibres in the body

1.) Type 1 Slow Twitch Fibres.

2.) Type 2 Fast Twitch Muscle

Fibre:
- Type 2A
- Type 2B.

Type 1 Slow Twitch Fibres

Slow Twitch Fibres are more suited for Long Distance/Marathon
runners.
Slow Twitch Fibres work best at Aerobic Respiration, when oxygen
is available and because they contain many mitochondria, it makes
them more efficient at producing energy.
As they contract slowly, means they can contract repeatedly and
endure working for longer periods before the fatigue.
However, because they contract slowly and repeatedly, they have
a weaker force production to be able to work for longer.
Your Soleus Muscle in your lower leg and Muscles in your back
involved in maintaining posture, contain mainly Slow Twitch Muscle
Fibres.
Slow Twitch Fibres are red in colour as they have a good blood
supply and a dense network of blood vessels.

Type 2 Fast Twitch Fibres

Fast Twitch Fibres are more suited for Sprinters/Weight Lifters.
There are two types of Fast Twitch Fibres and these include Type 2A
and Type 2B Muscle Fibres, they are thicker than Slow Twitch
Fibres.
They contract quicker with more force, but means they are not
able to endure as long before they fatigue due to lack of oxygen.
Fast Twitch Fibres have a stronger force production than Slow
Twitch Fibres as they use up a lot of energy all at once.
Your eyes are made up of Fast Twitch Fibres which is why they
make rapid eye movement.
Fast Twitch Fibres look whiter in appearance as they have a poor
blood supply and lack oxygen.

Type 2A Fast Twitch Fibres

Fast Twitch 2A Fibres are more suited for 400 metres runners.
Fast Twitch 2A Fibres work in either Aerobic or Anaerobic
Respiration, therefore they are made up of Type 1 and 2 Muscle
Fibres.
They work at slightly lower intensities, but at higher intensities
than Slow Twitch Fibres, this means they have a strong force
production.
Contract slower than Type 2B, therefore they can endure for longer
before they tire and fatigue.

Type 2B Fast Twitch Fibres

Fast Twitch 2B Fibres are more suited for 100 metres runners.
Fast Twitch 2B Fibres work best at only Anaerobic Respiration, when
oxygen is not available.
They work at maximum intensities, this gives it a full burst of
energy and a maximum force production when needed sprinting.
Fast Twitch 2B Fibres contract rapidly, however they tire quickly
and cant endure as long before they fatigue.

Types of Muscles Fibres

Comparison
Slow Twitch Fibres
Slow Twitch Fibres are similar to
Fast Twitch 2A Fibre as they both
work in Aerobic Respiration.
However Fast Twitch 2A Fibres can
also work in Anaerobic Respiration.
Slow Twitch Fibres look red in
appearance as they have a good
supply of blood and a dense
network of blood vessels. Whereas
in contrast Fast Twitch 2A Fibres
look whiter as they have a poor
blood supply and lack oxygen.
Slow Twitch Fibres contract slowly
and repeatedly with less force
which means they can endure
working for longer periods before
they tire and fatigue. On the other
hand Fast Twitch 2A Fibres contract
faster with more force which mean
they cant endure as long as they
tire and fatigue easily.

Fast Twitch 2A
Fibres

Fast Twitch 2B
Fibres

Unlike Fast Twitch 2B Fibres, Fast

Twitch 2A can also work in Aerobic
Respiration, however they can
both work in Anaerobic
Respiration. Fast Twitch 2A and 2B
Fibres are similar to one another
as they both look white in
appearance due to the poor blood
supply and the lack of oxygen.
This is why they both work in
Anaerobic Respiration, its
respiration without much oxygen.
Both Fast Twitch Fibres work at
higher intensities than Slow Twitch
Fibres which means they contract
rapidly with great force causing
them to tire and fatigue easily.
However Fast Twitch 2A Fibres
work at slightly higher intensities
than Slow Twitch Fibres, whereas
Fast Twitch 2B Fibres work at
maximum intensities.

Fast Twitch 2B Fibres are the

contrast of Slow Twitch Fibres as
Fast Twitch 2B Fibres work in
Anaerobic Respiration, whereas
Slow Twitch Fibres work in Aerobic
Respiration. Fast Twitch 2B Fibres
look whiter in appearance as they
have a poor blood supply and lack
oxygen. In contrast Slow Twitch
Fibres appear red as they have a
good blood supply and contain a
dense network of blood vessels.
Fast Twitch 2B Fibres work at
maximum intensities which means
they contract rapidly with great
force causing them to tire and
fatigue quicker. On the other hand
Slow Twitch Fibre work at lower
intensities which means they
contract slower with less force
allowing them to work longer
before they tire and fatigue.

Types of Muscle Contraction

There are 4 main way a Skeletal Muscle contract

1). Concentric
Contraction

3). Isometric
Contraction

Isotonic Contraction:
When a muscle
changes in length.

2). Eccentric
Contraction

4). Isokinetic
Contraction

Concentric Contraction
Concentric Contraction is part of Isotonic Contraction.
Concentric Contraction works together with Eccentric Contraction
to perform Isotonic Contraction.
Is when the muscle shortens and develops tension as the origin
and insertion of the muscle move closer together.
Concentric contractions are common to many sports in which you
need to generate a lot of power or explosive force.
An example of Concentric Contraction include the lifting phrase of
a bicep curls, a squat or a pull up.
To produce Concentric Contraction, a movement must work against
gravity.

Eccentric Contraction
Eccentric Contraction is part of Isotonic Contraction.
Eccentric Contraction works together with Concentric Contraction
to perform Isotonic Contraction.
Is when the muscle lengthen and develops tension as the origin
and insertion move further away from each other.
Eccentric contractions are common to many sports in which you
need controlled or resisted types of movements.
An example of Eccentric Contraction include the downwards phrase
of squats, push ups or pull ups.
To produce Eccentric Contraction, it works to resist the force of
gravity.

Isometric Contraction
Isometric Contraction happens without movement of a limb .
Is when the muscle doesnt moves and stays the same length, but
still contracts and develops tension.
An example of Isometric Contraction happens when we stand up as
our postural muscles produce Isometric Contractions
The amount of force a muscle is able to produce during an
Isometric Contraction depends on the length of the muscle at the
point of contraction.
Each muscle has an optimum length at which the maximum
Isometric Contraction can be produced.
.

Isokinetic Contraction
Isokinetic Contraction is similar to Isotonic Contraction.
Isokinetic Contraction is when the muscle contracts and changes
in length at a constant speed.
An example of Isokinetic Contraction is the breast stroke in
swimming, as the water provides a constant and even resistance to
the movement.
Normally the type of contraction doesnt happen in sport, as it is
used to test and improve muscle strength.
Isokinetic Contraction usually requires special, expensive training
equipment known as an Isokinetic Dynamometer.
The benefit of this type of resistance training is that it is one of the
fastest ways to increase muscle strength.

Skeletal Muscular
Contraction
Skeletal Muscles always contract in pairs
Antagonistic Muscles are the pair of muscles that work together
either contracting or relaxing to make a muscle move.
The muscle that contracts is the Prime Mover or Agonist and
when contracting, the muscle gets shorter and thicker.
The muscle that relaxes is the Antagonist and when relaxing, the
muscle gets thinner and longer.
By relaxing the Antagonist allows the Agonist Muscle to contract
and movement to be produced.
Other muscles that assist the Agonist Muscle in producing
movement are called Synergist Muscles.
Some muscles, called Fixator Muscles, stabilises the origin of the
Agonist and the joint that the origin spans, in order to help the
Agonist produce movement the most effectively

Skeletal Muscular
Contraction
When Skeletal Muscles contract, it follows the Sliding Filament
Theory
Tendons
(Attach
Muscle
to
Bones.)

Synergis
t
Agonist

Antagonist

Fixator

Tendons
(Attach
Muscle
to
Bones.)

Sliding Filament Theory

The Sliding Filament Theory is the process of Skeletal Contraction
While the muscle relaxes, the Troponin and Tropomyosin cover the
Actin and Myosin Filament
This therefore blocks them from binding to one another and
prevents Muscle Contraction from happening.
There are 4 steps to the Sliding Filament Theory

Relaxed

Contracted

Sliding Filament Theory

There are 4 steps to the Sliding Filament Theory

Step 1
1). Once our body give the signal for a muscle to contract, Action
Potential, the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum releases Calcium Ions into the
Sarcoplasm.
1). The Calcium Ions binds to the Troponin and take them away from
the Myosin binding site, originally prevented Actin and Myosin from
binding.
1). As the bounded Troponin and Calcium Ion moves away, it also
moves away the Tropomyosin as all three are bounded together.

Sliding Filament Theory

There are 4 steps to the Sliding Filament Theory

Step 2
2). As the Troponin, Tropomyosin and Calcium Ion have all bounded
together and moved away, the Myosin binding site is now available.
2). The Myosin filament produces a golf-club shaped Cross Bridge
which binds with the Actin filament, which causes the Sarcomere in
becoming shorter.
2). This action is called the Power Stroke and because the
Sarcomere is becoming shorter, it means the muscle is contracting.

Sliding Filament Theory

There are 4 steps to the Sliding Filament Theory

Step 3
3). ATPase, compound provides energy for all actions in the body, is
needed to re-energise the Myosin filament.
3). Once ATPase is exposed to the Myosin binding site, the Myosin
filament disconnects from the Actin filament and binds to the ATPase.
3). Then further up the Myosin binding site, the Myosin reattaches to
the Actin which shortens the Sarcomere even more.
3). As the Sarcomere is at the shortest it can be, it means the
Muscle is now fully contracted.

Sliding Filament Theory

There are 4 steps to the Sliding Filament Theory

Step 4
4). After the Action Potential have finished, the stimulus for
Muscular Contraction, the Calcium Ions will return into the
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum.
4). Therefore the Troponin and Tropomyosin will again bind to the
Myosin heads, which means that the Myosin cant bind to the Actin
Molecule.
4). This means that Muscular Contraction can no longer happen
because the Tropomyosin covers the Myosin Cross Bridge which is
the position of different elements while the muscle is lengthened and
relaxed.

Sliding Filament Theory

Key Words to remember
Myofibrils = contain the proteins, Actin and Myosin, which causes
muscle contraction to take place.
Actin = along with Myosin, these are the protein responsible for
muscle contraction.
Myosin = along with Actin, these are the protein responsible for
muscle contraction.
Sarcomere = are formed of Actin and Myosin which are the
contractile units of Myofibrils.
Troponin = is the second Actin filament which pulls the
Tropomyosin out of the way when bounded to Calcium Ions.
Calcium Ions = when bounded with Troponin, the second Actin
Filament, pulls the Tropomyosin out of the way
Tropomyosin = when muscle is relaxed this protein blocks access
to the Myosin binding site.
ATPase = needed for Skeletal Muscular Contraction to happen as
it provides energy for the contraction.

Muscles Overview
To Revisit Major
Muscle Click
Here.

To Revisit Types
Of Muscles
Click Here.

To Revisit Types
Of Muscles Fibres
Click Here.

To Revisit
Types Muscle
Contraction Click
Here.

To Revisit
Skeletal Muscle
Contraction Click
Here.

To Revisit
Sliding Filament
Theory Click
Here.

By Hannah Chapman 10C.