Jackilyn Malone, RN, BSN The Muscular System

● How many muscles are in the human body? – OVER 600!!

● Muscle- – Bundles of fibers held together by connective tissue.

Function ● Four Functions of Muscles 1. attach to bones to provide voluntary movement – 2. produce heat and energy for the body – 3. help maintain posture – 4. protect internal organs

Kinds of Muscle 1. Cardiac 2. Visceral 3. Skeletal Involuntary Voluntary

TENDONS ● Tendons – Strong, tough connective tissue cords. Attach some muscles to bones/other muscles

Muscles ● Partially contracted at all times ● Even when not in use ● This is called MUSCLE TONE ● Sometimes called – State of readiness to act

Abnormals ● Atrophy – Loss of muscle tone – Muscle shrinks and loses strength ● Contracture – Severe tightening of flexor muscle resulting in bending of joint

Muscle Movements ● Adduction ● Abduction ● Flexion ● Extension ● Rotation ● Circumduction

Muscle Movements ● Rotation – Turning a body part around it's own axis ● Turning the head from side to side ● Circumduction – Moving in a circle at a joint, or moving one end of a body part in a circle while the other end remains still ● Swinging arm in a circle

Muscle Movements ● Adduction – Moving a body part toward the midline ● Abduction – Moving a body part away from the midline

Muscle movements ● Flexion – Decreasing the angle between two bones – Bending a body part ● Extension – Increasing the angle between two bones – Straightening a body part

Abnormalities and Diseases of the Muscular System

Fibromyalgia ● Chronic, widespread pain in specific muscle sites ● Cause: unknown ● Treatment: pain relief, physical therapy, massage, exercise, stress reduction and muscle relaxers ● Dx: 11/18 pressure spots= pos dx

Muscular Dystrophy ● Group of inherited diseases ● Leads to chronic, progressive muscular atrophy ● Usually appears in early childhood ● Most types results in total disability and early death ● No cure. ● Physical therapy to slow progress of dz

Myasthenia Gravis ● Chronic ● Nerve impulses not transmitted to the muscles correctly ● Leads to progressive weakness and paralysis ● If it affects respiratory muscles, can be fatal ● Unknown cause ● No treatment, no cure

Spasms & Strains ● Spasm=cramp ● Tx=gentle pressure and stretching, sometimes Rx needed ● Strain=overstretching of muscle/tendon ● Tx=rest, medicine, heat/ice

Careers with Muscular System ● Athletic trainer ● Chiropractor ● Massage therapist ● Physical therapist ● Podiatrist ● Prosthetist ● Sports Medicine