The flesh is the essential organ of the body and responsible for body movement. From olden days, muscles remain the language of power. A well-built masculine body is always admired by everyone. Even though strong bones also account for power and stronger action, muscles sweep the credit on the whole by showing action and covering the bones. Muscle acts as the reservoir for force. Without muscles no one can move, work, play, eat or even breathe, and life will be a paralysed one with difficulty in survival.
Muscle constitutes about 40 per cent of body weight i.e.
more than the weight of bones (20-25 per cent) or fat (25-30 per cent). Their
shape, size and action usually vary from person to person and according to the
place of origin. Muscles are usually attached to the bones by condensed muscle
fibres i.e. tendons and supported by fibrous tissues i.e. ligaments. Muscles
act on the girdle of bones with the stimulus of nerves, i.e. with lever (bones)
and current (nerve stimulation /signals), any type of job can be carried out
with contraction and relaxation of the muscles.
Composition and colour of muscle – All muscles are made of bundles of
muscle fibres, namely myofibrils. They are arranged mostly in a parallel manner
and sometimes overlap. The muscle fibres are made up of proteins (30 per cent)
and water (70 per cent). The other constituents are Ca, potassium, ATP
(Adenosine triphosphate), glucose, creatine, enzymes, vitamins, etc., which are
all very essential energy source for muscular contraction and relaxation. The
active proteins of the muscles are actin and myosin.
The colour of the muscle is due to the red iron protein, i.e. myoglobin (like
haemoglobin in blood) present in the cytoplasm / sarcoplasm of the myofibrils.
The colour of the muscle normally varies i.e. from velvety red to white or
pallor depending upon the concentration of myoglobin and oxygen.
Source of muscle energy – The instant energy for muscle contraction is
usually derived from ATP. The source of energy usually comes from carbohydrate
and fat from ingested food. During aerobic exercises (gentle jogging, swimming,
walking, etc.) the energy for muscle functions will be derived using oxygen
supply from blood, whereas in the case of anaerobic exercises (short period
vigorous exercise – gym activities) muscular contraction will be more where it
occludes the blood vessels which supply oxygen. So, an alternative route of
energy utilisation from glucose will be made out. In this case, lactic acid and
pyruvic acid occur as waste products. More accumulation of these waste products
causes pain and cramps.
Nature of muscle function – Muscle can act fast or in a slow manner. It
starts functioning on getting stimulus from nerve endings. Muscle can even
contract less than a fraction of second i.e., 0.2-0.3 secs. Usually, all the
muscles always remain in partial contracted state. Complete and sustained
contraction is called contracture and complete relaxation indicates paralysis.
The muscle functions depend on the conduction power, tone, elasticity and
contractility. With proper functions and exercise training, muscle will become
bulk with power, good reflex and excellent coordination of movements.
Strength of Muscle
Muscle can be
developed or strengthened by continuous use (i.e. training and straining
muscles in gym or work) like using brain (which gets sharpened through
learning). Normally, one relates the size of the muscle to power. But actually,
it is not so. Regular exercise and training only endorces it. For example, even
though leg muscles seem to be bigger and look stronger, tongue and massester
(chewing muscle) are the most powerful muscles of the body. The collective
presence of muscle bundles with overlapping nature, working angle and working
mode get this credit in spite of small muscles.
The maximum strength of a male will be attained in the age of 20-30 due to
hormones – i.e. Testosterone. This male hormone is the energizer for the
muscle. After puberty, the muscle mass increases in man due to increased
secretion of testosterone but in females, fat deposits increase due to feminine
hormones. The muscle power of females will be usually 30 per cent less compared
to males. Even though females compete with males in all fields in this
competitive world, nature has provided less power to females. Also strength of
the muscle depends on the training, speed, angle of work and finally heredity
too. Muscle works physiologically as well as psychologically (with will power
of mind or courage). Cold environment/temperature and fatigue reduces the power
of muscles. Likewise, exposure to very high temperature will bring severe
muscular contractions or cramps, i.e. sun stroke, reducing muscular power.
Role of Muscle in our body
- It gives good shape
to the body
- It supports bones,
joints, blood vessels, nerves, inner organs, etc.
- It aids in movement
of the body
- It aids blood
circulation with contraction i.e., muscle pump (as heart does)
- It also helps body
to maintain body temperature – Contraction and relaxation / stretching
i.e. work out in muscle produces heat. The shivering of the body during
cold season or fever is an attempt to produce more heat in the body
- Finally, it also
helps in forming walls of the heart, blood vessels, etc. and also for
separation of the compartments ( diaphragm separates chest from abdomen)
Types
of muscle – Muscle can be classified by its types and action. i.e by its types,
- Skeletal or striated
muscles – These muscles are long and slender i.e. cylindrical in shape.
They can be divided into transverse bands (striations). It covers and
binds skeletal bones and aids in locomotion with contraction and
relaxation. It also helps to work (either major work or fine work) related
to the body or environment. So, losing these muscle functions make one
paralysed.
- Smooth or
non-striated muscle – These muscles are spindle in shape. They are found
especially in blood vessels, food tube, stomach, intestines, rectum,
bronchus, bladder, uterus, etc. These muscles help in transport of blood
through the body, transport of air into the lungs, transport of food
through food tube, stomach, intestines with peristalsis movement, etc. So,
surviving will be difficult if one were to lose these muscle functionsas
it becomes difficult to distribute nutrients properly throughout the body.
The severe contraction of these muscles will cause colicky pain.
- Cardiac muscles –
Cardiac muscle is made of special striated muscles which work
involuntarily. It contracts and relaxes in rhythmic pattern.
By
their action, muscles can be classified as:
- Voluntary muscles – Muscles that
work under our control are called voluntary muscles. For example – all
striated or skeletal muscles (exception – cardiac muscle). These muscles
help in locomotion anchoring bones with tendons. Standing or sitting or
running or walking, chewing, etc., are all due to the contraction and
relaxation of these muscles only.
- Involuntary muscles – These
muscles work on their own (i.e. without our conscious effort) for natural
day-to-day requirement of the body. For example, peristaltic movements of
the intestines which transport ingested food, contraction and dilatation
of the blood vessels which project blood, etc., are due to the action of
these muscles only. It works subconsciously with the help of nervous
system and hormones. All smooth muscles are involuntary muscles.
Types
of muscle contractions
- Isometric
contraction –
Refers to muscle contraction where its length remains the same. Here tone
of the muscle increases to give power to lift, to stabilise, to hang, to
give force, etc. In these contractions, all the energy will be converted
into heat without any work or movement.
- Isotonic contraction – Refers to
muscle contraction where its tone i.e. Tension, remains the same. Here
muscle gets shortened or stretched/elongated to provide movement of the
parts involved. For example, kicking, throwing, pushing, etc. Muscles
twitching also belongs to this type. In these contractions, energy will be
utilised both for movement and heat production.
Both types of
contractions aids in strengthening of muscles, vascular return, blood
circulation, maintaining body heat, etc. In addition, regular and continued
isotonic contractions help more in muscle/body building.
Body building – On increased usage i.e. with strenuous work or gym
workout, muscle use to get bulge in size and get more vigour in strength. Here
the number of muscle fibres remain the same, but only the size gets increased.
Exercises increases blood circulation to the muscles and thus increases its
efficiency and endurance.
For quick attainment of muscle mass, action, strength and efficiency, some
people use anabolic steroids (synthetic androgen – male hormone) in sports. Use
of this steroid will benumb muscles and mask pain occurring due to
overstretching or overexertion. They do this so they can work out with more
spirit and vigour without any pain or cramps. But, the use of anabolic steroids
can be detected with blood analysis and urine analysis, so those who try to
cheat can easily be found and can be thrown out of the game in case of
malpractice.
Atrophy of muscles
Muscle mass will decrease with respect to
power and size with age, lack of nutrition, dehydration, fatigue, non-use and
diseases. Un-used muscles will crumble in size on their own and get atrophied.
Likewise, any continued contraction or relaxation will damage the muscle. For
example, continued contraction occurring in case of tetanus due to neurotoxin
will stimulate nerves continuously to produce continuous muscular contraction
in a severe manner to endanger life. Here, oxygen supply will be arrested due
to obliterated blood vessels and contracted lungs with strong continued
contractions. Continued relaxation in case of bedridden / immobilised /
paralysed / serious illness will also cause muscular atrophy or wasting of
muscles with reduction in blood supply and power.
Problems often occuring in muscles is cramps – It may be either due to
nutrition loss or excessive usage or strenuous exercise or disease.
Homeopathic Medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a
qualified Homeopath.
for new hope
Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi Homeo Clinic
24 E. New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai, TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-452-233-8833 | +91-984-319-1011 (Mob)
Fax: +91-452-233-0196
E-mail: drcheena@yahoo.com
www.drcheena.com / www.drcheena.in
(Disclaimer: The
contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content is not
intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for any health
problem or medical condition.)