The human body has over 600 muscles, each with its own unique function. Muscles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, the largest muscle being the gluteus maximus which stabilizes the trunk of the body. The smallest muscle is the tiny stapedius of the middle ear which is connected to the stapes (stirrup bone), the smallest bone in the human body. When most people think of muscles, they think of the huge arm and chest muscles of professional bodybuilders. In actuality, there are very few things we would be able to do without our muscles. Muscles are needed for standing, walking, breathing, reproduction, and digesting food.

Muscles are able to stretch, grow, and self-repair. Some muscles we have conscious control over. Other muscles perform various tasks within our bodies without us ever thinking about them. The muscles of the human body can be categorized into three main types: Skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle.

Skeletal muscles are usually found in pairs. These are the muscles that we see moving beneath the surface of our skin in our arms, chest, legs, and back. These muscles are attached to the bones of the skeleton in such a way that they enable the body to walk and move.  They work together, coordinating with other muscles in order to bend (flex) and straighten (extend) different joints of the body. Most skeletal muscles are “voluntary” muscles, meaning you can control them by just thinking about performing an action. As babies we learn to sit, crawl, and reach for objects. Then we build upon these basic skills until we learn how to coordinate and control our skeletal muscles so well that we can perform complex tasks such as running, jumping, and dunking a basketball.

Smooth muscles are found deep inside your body. These muscles are involuntary, meaning you don’t have to think about them in order for them to do their job. Smooth muscles continuously push food through your stomach and digestive system. Even if you were to lay upside-down for hours, the smooth muscles of your body would work against gravity to steadily push the food through your entire digestive system. Vascular smooth muscles are located within the walls of your blood vessels. Smooth muscles also line the walls of the bladder, and are responsible for the contractions of the uterus during the process of childbirth.

Cardiac muscles are the specialized muscles found inside your heart. These muscles never stop working from the time you are born, until you draw your last breath. These unique muscles line the chambers of the heart. When these muscles contract they pump blood throughout the body. Other types of cardiac muscles actually carry an electrical current to coordinate the timing and rhythm of your heartbeat.

Skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, and cardiac muscles all have different shapes and textures. The purpose of certain muscles is for providing strength and power, while other types of muscles are designed for precision, coordinating fine movements, stability, and endurance. Exercise and correct nutrition is required to keep all three types of muscles healthy and strong.

About the Author

Rachelle Kirk Rachelle Kirk writes articles about natural home remedies, health tips, muscle injuries, and natural ways to get rid of lower back pain, tension headaches, and other health problems.