Anatomy & Physiology I and II

Anatomy & Physiology Study Guide

Chapter 10: Muscle Tissue Muscle is important in the movement of bones and articulations in the human body. Muscle tissue, one of the four primary types of tissue, consists of muscle cells that are highly specialized for contraction. Three types of muscle tissue exist: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. Skeletal muscle tissue moves the body by pulling on bones of the skeleton. Cardiac muscle tissue pumps blood through the circulatory system. Smooth muscle tissue pushes fluids and solids along the digestive tract and regulates the diameters of small arteries. 10.1 Skeletal Muscle Skeletal muscles are organs composed primarily of skeletal muscle tissue, but they also contain nerves, connective tissues, and blood vessels. Each cell in skeletal muscle is an individual muscle fiber. Skeletal muscles are directly or indirectly attached to the skeleton. Skeletal muscles perform six functions. Skeletal muscles: 1) pull on tendons and move the skeleton, 2) maintain body posture, 3) make up the abdominal wall and the floor of the pelvic cavity and encircle the openings of the digestive and urinary tract, 4) provide voluntary control over swallowing, defecation, and urination, 5) regulate body temperature, and 6) regulate amino acid in the bloodstream.

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