HEALTH

How many muscles in the human body?

February 6, 2023

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The number of muscles in the human body

How many muscles in the human body, The importance of muscles lies in the functions they provide to the body; It helps movement, regulates body temperature, and maintains proper body posture during movement and stability,[1] and there is controversy and difference in the number of body muscles from one reference to another; According to some references, their number reaches 600 muscles,[2] while others indicate that the body contains more than 650 muscles.[3]

The reason for the discrepancy in the number of muscles from one reference to another is the mechanism used to count the muscles; Some references divide the large muscles into parts, while the large muscles are counted as a single unit according to other references. [4]

Types of muscles in the human body

There are three types of muscles in the human body, and the following is their brief statement:

Voluntary Muscles

also known as striated muscles; Because they appear under the microscope in the form of threads, and they are specialized tissues connected to the bones in a way that allows their movement. Bones with skeletal muscles are known as the musculoskeletal system. It is worth noting that these muscles are classified as voluntary muscles; Meaning that the person controls its contraction and relaxation. In fact, the muscular system is the largest organ in the body, comprising 45-55% of the body mass. [5]

Involuntary muscles

These muscles are also known as smooth muscles, and the reason they are called involuntary muscles is that their movement of contraction and relaxation is not subject to human control, and they are found in blood vessels such as arteries, and many internal organs, including the alimentary canal and the uterus These muscles are arranged in layers that contract in a specific rhythm. [6]

Cardiac muscle

is similar to skeletal muscle in that it appears in the form of threads under the microscope, but it differs from it in that the heart muscle contracts and relaxes without human awareness and awareness. [7]

The largest and smallest muscle in the human body.

Muscles vary in size and shape, and can be stated as follows:

The largest muscle in the human body

The buttocks muscle, which is anatomically known as the gluteus maximus muscle, is the largest muscle in the human body. It is located at the back of the hip, and enables it to expand and rotate.[8]

The smallest muscle in the human body.

This muscle is located in the middle ear specifically and is known anatomically as the Stapedius muscle,[8] and although its length is less than 1 millimeter,[9] it controls the vibration and movement of the stirrup bone. It is the smallest bone in the body.[8]

Interesting facts about the muscles of the human body

The muscles of the body are made up of thousands of muscle fibers, which are flexible tissue,[10] and despite the knowledge of the exact structure of the muscles, there are many interesting and strange facts related to them, including the following:

Muscles grow during sleep Muscles

are stressed by daily activities, but deep sleep provides them with room for rest and growth; This is according to the physical changes that occur during it, namely: [11]

Increased blood flow towards the muscles.
Secretion of hormones responsible for building muscle and tissue recovery.

Muscles control 85% of body heat Muscles

are involved in regulating body temperature; As the matter depends on its contraction and relaxation, and this is what we show in the following: [12]

When feeling cold: muscle contraction gives heat energy that raises body temperature, and the muscles in blood vessels contract; To conserve the heat gained.
When feeling warm: the muscles in the blood vessels expand, which increases blood flow and helps get rid of excess heat energy through the skin.

In fact, the tongue is one of the special muscles;

The tongue consists of 8 muscles that determine its external appearance and position, and enable it to move and carry out its functions,[13] and what distinguishes the tongue is its possession of a Tongue print that distinguishes it from others,[14] and this imprint is not similar between one person and another.[15]

The masseter muscle is classified as the strongest.

The masseter muscle is located in the jaw, and this muscle provides great strength compared to its size; It can snap the back teeth (mills) on each other with a force of 900 Newtons,[16] and it can close the front teeth (incisors) on each other with a force of 245 Newtons.[1]

Working in pairs

requires moving the bones of the body into two muscles that work together; The first muscle contracts to push the bone in a specific direction, while the second muscle contracts to return the bone to its first position,[17] meaning that the return of the bone to its straight position does not occur when the first muscle responsible for tension is relaxed, but rather requires a tensile force from another muscle. 18]

The brain controls muscle movement in reverse.

The motor cortex is the part responsible for voluntary muscle movements, and it is a part of the brain located behind the frontal lobe,[19] but what is interesting is that the cerebral cortex located on the right side of the brain controls the muscles located in the left part of the body, as well as The matter is that the cerebral cortex located on the left side controls the right bodily muscles. [16]

Gaining muscle faster than losing it

Exercising for two months may help increase muscle strength by up to 47%, but if you leave exercising for two months, the percentage of muscle loss is only 23%.

Summary of the article

The number of muscles in the body ranges between 600-650 muscles, and this depends on the method of counting and counting its parts. Muscles are divided into 3 types, some of which move voluntarily and others move automatically, as each type has its own characteristics and functions; Some of them move the bones and maintain their position during stability, and some of them play a key role in regulating temperature, while the heart muscle pumps blood throughout the body.

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