The muscle system

The muscular system is made up of three types of muscles, as well as other components, and performs many functions, including:

• Types of muscles

  The three types of muscles are skeletal, smooth, and cardiac: 

• Skeletal muscles: These muscles are voluntary and attach to bones to enable movement. Skeletal muscles are made up of skeletal muscle tissue, connective tissue, nerve tissue, and blood or vascular tissue. 

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• Smooth muscles: These muscles line organs and blood vessels to regulate movement within the body. Smooth muscles in the intestines are also called visceral muscles. 

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• Cardiac muscles: These muscles are only found in the heart to pump blood throughout the body. 

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• Other components

  Other components of the muscular system include:

  • Muscle fibers: Made up of myofibrils, which are contractile structures of the cell. 

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• Endomysium: Separates single muscle fibers from one another and allows them to glide during muscle contraction. 

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• Sarcomeres: The functional unit of muscle fibers, made up of protein filaments called actin and myosin. 

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• Functions

  The muscular system performs many functions, including movement, stability, protection, and temperature regulation.