Skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle

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The skeletal muscle is a body muscle made up of elongated and transversal fibres, nucleated, and consists of blood vessels. It is a collection of voluntary muscles that are found at either one or both extremes of every bone structure in the body. Individual skeletal muscle fibres are surrounded by irregular reticular and collagen fibres also known as endomysium. The whole muscle is covered apart from the tendon junction. The skeletal muscles form forty to fifty percent of the human body with close to 400 in an average human’s body. It performs two actions; they are flexors and extensors. Flexing involves decreasing the size of the joint angle while extension involves increasing the joint angle. The skeletal muscle system plays a very important role in the human body. Basically the human body cannot survive without muscles.

Skeletal muscles generate movement in the body. Human beings are able to move from one place to other both dynamically and statically (Stone, 2003). One is able to move the hands, head, fingers, legs and the waist. This function is enabled through the skeletal muscle contraction and relaxation. When the skeletal muscle contracts or flexes the hand or leg folds. While when the muscle extends or relaxes the hand or leg unfolds. This is an illustration of the movement function of the skeletal muscles.

They support, hold, and protect major organs and tissues in the body. The skeleton structure of a vertebra provides the body frame in which organs and tissues support themselves on. Skeletal muscles connect and attach the organs and the body tissues on the skeleton (Stone, 2003). This provides a definite frame and shape of the body. They also protect special organs such as the eyes, the lungs, heart, and the stomach from harm. Abdominal muscles protect the vital organs around the abdomen while chest muscles protect vital organs around the bosom.

Maintain body posture and position. Through skeletal muscle tension the body is able to maintain a steady position and a posture based on what position the individual wishes to be in. They assist in standing, walking, sitting lying down, and leaning (Stone, 2003).

Ensure proper blood circulation around the body. Skeletal muscles found around blood vessels assist in blood circulation through contraction and relaxation. The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscles propel blood through the veins or arteries hence enhancing circulation. This function also ensures heat distribution throughout the body hence regulating body temperatures.

Assist in storage of proteins and energy in the body. Muscles are known to store excess protein found in the body hence this assists in energy providence during starvation. Animals that hibernate during various seasons store proteins in the skeletal system so as to sustain them throughout the hibernation period.

Skeletal muscles are affected by various diseases and in relation to them are bone diseases and fractures.

Myopathy is a skeletal muscle condition or disorder that is caused by prolonged disuse of a muscle do to several causes (Stone, 2003). The main cause though is usually as a result o a bone fracture. Bone fractures lead to no movement which leads to inflammation of the muscle leading to myopathy.

Another bone disease is Osteoporosis which means porous bones (Stone, 2003). This is a progressive bone disease that leads to decreased bone mass and density which causes week skeletal structure. The effects of this disease are that it alters level of protein present in the bone marrow as well as the skeletal muscles. Osteoporosis mainly leads to weak bone structure hence making the person vulnerable to bone fractures which can be caused by either car accidents, accidents while playing, or from falling.

Other bone diseases are rickets which are caused by lack of calcium and vitamin D in infants and children. This leads to weak bones and chronic states are signified by bent or knocked knees. Bone fractures are as result of force or stress on a bone in the body causing it to break or shatter. The bone can break completely or crack. Bone fractures are mainly caused by accidents or voluntary injury from another individual. An Osteologist categorizes bone fractures into the following categories: a simple fracture which is described as a bone broken into two pieces, an open fracture whereby the broken bone protrudes out of the skin, a closed fracture whereby the bone remains inside the body, and a stress fracture which is attributed to a crack in the bone due to overuse.

Bone fractures undergo the process of X-ray first which is performed by a radiologist. The X-Ray allows the doctor or Osteologist to identify which part of the bone is affected. The next step involves straightening or stabilizing the bone before casting it. After casting it the bone is left for weeks to allow it to heal. For bone diseases treatment usually includes medication, healthy dieting and physical therapy so as to strengthen the bones.

The skeletal muscle is a very essential part of the human body. Through body posture, positioning, blood circulation and movement man is able to function normally. To live a healthy and safe life prevents one from acquiring certain diseases or prevents bone fractures which may lead to physical impairment.

References

Stone, R. J & Stone, J. A. (2003).Atlas of skeletal muscles(4ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill