Let's learn about skeletal muscles, which help us move and walk.

Did you know that a special type of muscle in your body works when you raise your hand, walk, or even smile? Today we are going to talk about this most important part of our body, the skeletal muscles. Without them, we would not be able to move our bodies as we want or do anything we want. So, to be precise, many things in our daily lives depend on these muscles.

What is skeletal muscle, simply put?

Simply put, skeletal muscle is the muscle that is attached to our skeleton, that is, the skeletal system. This type of muscle is the largest in our body. Imagine, between 30% and 40% of our total body weight is made up of these skeletal muscles.

These muscles are attached to our bones by strong bands of tissue called tendons. The muscles in your shoulders, the muscles in the back of your legs (hamstring muscles), and the six-pack muscles in your stomach (abdominal muscles) are all good examples of skeletal muscles.

How are these different from other muscles in the body?

There are three main types of muscles in our body: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. The biggest difference between them is whether we can control them or not.

Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles . That is, we can control them as we want, at our own will. When you reach out to pick up a book, the skeletal muscles in your neck, arm, and shoulder are working under your control. Our somatic nervous system sends signals to them and makes them work.

But cardiac muscle and smooth muscle are involuntary muscles . That means we can't control them with our minds. They function automatically. They are controlled by our autonomic nervous system. We can't control things like the beating of our heart or the digestion of food in our intestines.

To better understand this difference, see the table below.

Does everyone have the same muscle mass?

No. Muscle mass varies from person to person. Generally, men have more muscle mass than women. Also, people who are taller and heavier can have more muscle mass. But the most important thing is that muscle mass gradually decreases as we age. In medical terms, we call this condition ``Sarcopenia``.

What service do skeletal muscles provide to our bodies?

The services these muscles provide to our bodies are no small feat. Let's take a look at some of the functions performed by these essential parts of our musculoskeletal system.

• Body movement: This is the most important thing. Walking, running, lifting weights, writing, dancing, all of these things are done by skeletal muscles working together with the bones.
• Maintaining Posture: These muscles help us to sit and stand with our back straight. A strong muscular system is essential for maintaining good posture.
• Breathing: The muscles in the chest help the chest expand when we inhale and contract when we exhale. Without these, we wouldn't even be able to breathe.
• Chewing and swallowing: When we put food in our mouths, these muscles in the jaw and neck help us chew and swallow it. This is the first step in the digestive process.
• Protecting joints: These help keep our joints, or joints, stable by preventing them from bouncing around. For example, the muscles around the knee protect the knee joint.
• Body temperature control: When we are cold, our bodies shiver to maintain body temperature. These muscles do this shivering. When the muscles contract, heat is generated.
• Nutrient storage: Muscle is an important nutrient store in our body, especially storing energy in the form of glycogen.

What is the structure of these muscles?

Think of it like a rope. Many small strands of rope come together to form a large rope. Similarly, a muscle is made up of thousands of muscle fibers . These muscle fibers can be less than half an inch long to more than three inches long.

These muscle fibers and muscle fiber bundles are covered with various sheaths. This protects the muscles and keeps them organized.

Skeletal muscles are also called "striated muscles" because, when viewed under a microscope, these muscle fibers appear to have a pattern of red and white stripes. Cardiac muscles also have these stripes, but smooth muscles do not have these stripes.

How do we keep our muscles strong?

Keeping our skeletal muscles healthy and strong is very important for overall health. So what can we do about it?

1. Exercise regularly

Muscles get stronger when they are used. Resistance training, such as weight lifting, is great for building muscle mass. Cardio exercises, such as walking, running, and swimming, also help build muscle endurance. Set aside at least a few days a week to exercise.

2. Eat a balanced diet

Protein is essential for building and repairing muscles. Be sure to include protein-rich foods like eggs, meat, fish, milk, lentils, chickpeas, and green beans in your diet. Also, carbohydrates and good fats are needed to provide energy to muscles.

3. Get enough rest

Rest is just as important as exercise. It is when we sleep and rest that the muscle fibers damaged by exercise are repaired and strengthened. Try to get 7-8 hours of good sleep a day .

4. Drink plenty of water.

Dehydration can impair muscle function, so remember to drink enough water throughout the day.

What are the common conditions that affect skeletal muscles?

Unfortunately, a variety of things, from minor injuries to serious medical conditions, can affect our skeletal muscles. Some of these include:

• Muscle Strains: We call this a "muscle strain" in everyday life. These injuries can occur when a muscle is overused or suddenly pulled.
• Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendon, the band that connects muscle to bone. For example, a condition called tennis elbow.
• Muscular Dystrophies: This is a genetic condition that causes muscles to gradually weaken over time.
• Myasthenia Gravis (MG): This is an autoimmune disease. It disrupts the communication between nerves and muscles. This causes fatigue and muscle weakness.
• Rhabdomyolysis: A serious condition in which the muscles are severely damaged and their contents leak into the blood. This can damage the kidneys.
• Sarcopenia: As we discussed earlier, there is a natural decrease in muscle mass and strength as we age.

Skeletal muscles are an extremely important part of our body, contributing to almost every function of our daily lives. Keeping them healthy helps us live a healthy, active life.

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