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Overview of the Muscular System
This guide explores the three main types of muscle tissue in the human body, their functions, and properties.
Smooth Muscle Tissue
Location: Found in the digestive, reproductive, circulatory, and urinary systems.
Function: Operates involuntarily, controlling various internal processes.
Cardiac Muscle Tissue
Location: Exclusive to the heart.
Function: Regulated by the sinoatrial node to maintain a heart rhythm, typically around 72 beats per minute in a resting, healthy person.
Characteristic: Exhibits autorhythmicity, a specific heart contraction pattern.
Skeletal Muscle Tissue
Function: Facilitates movement by attaching muscles to joints via tendons, controlled voluntarily by the somatic nervous system.
Roles: Includes locomotion, posture maintenance, and internal substance transportation like glycogen.
Properties of Muscles
Muscles generally possess four key properties:
- Elasticity - ability to stretch and return to original length
- Contractility - capability to shorten and generate force
- Electrical Excitability - responsiveness to stimulation
- Extensibility - capacity to be extended without damage
