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Muscular System

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Each of the 700+ individual skeletal muscles are living organs that, along with associated tendons, aponeuroses, and other connective tissues, define the human muscular system. Recognition that each individual muscle, from the tiny stapedius muscle of the middle ear to the gluteus maximus muscle of the buttocks, is a living organ, vascularized and innervated, should help you appreciate these fasicnating structures.

As one of three types of muscle tissue found in the human body..., skeletal muscle (SKM) tissue is not unique in its ability to contract (shorten in length) to produce movement. Besides its unique organization, what sets skeletal muscle tissue apart is the diversity of additional functions, including:

• Support soft tissues: provides support for organs of the oral and pelvic cavities
• Protect internal organs: provides protection for internal organs of the abdominal cavity
• Guard entrances/exits: circular muscles provide voluntary control over swallowing, defication, & urination
• Thermoregulation: shivering produces heat to maintain a stable body temperature in cold conditions
• Joint stability & posture: resting tension on tendons helps stabilize joints and maintain posture
• Nutrient storage: proteins that make up myofibrils can be broken down to provide amino acids for energy production

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