Muscle System

 Learning objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

• Identify the different types of muscle
• List the functions of muscle
• Describe how muscle fibres, connective tissue and nerves are arranged in muscle
• Describe the structure of skeletal muscle cells
• Describe the process of muscle contraction from the brain to the sarcomere
• Explain how energy for use in muscle contraction is generated
• Describe coordinated muscle contraction
• Describe smooth and cardiac muscle contraction
• List the factors that influence muscle growth or can cause muscle atrophy
• Describe the difference between fast and slow twitch muscle fibres
• Compare the size distribution of different fibre types in two different muscles
• Explain the relationship between muscle fibre type and function