Skeletal muscles make up 40% of total body weight [1]. That’s a lot! Since they are found throughout the body, they have many different functions; all of which play a vital role in our everyday lives.
To start, skeletal muscles function to produce movement and facilitate mobility. From blinking one’s eyes to walking to working at a computer, skeletal muscles are responsible for generating the necessary forces to produce these actions [2,3]. By contracting and relaxing in a coordinated manner, muscles pull on bones, causing them to move at various joints throughout the body. The ability to control the movement of bones is made possible by tendons, which are thick bands of connective tissue that connect these skeletal muscles to bone [3]. For example, as the biceps muscle contracts, it exerts tension on the tendon, transmitting forces to the bones and ultimately resulting in movement, which in this case, is flexion (bending) of the elbow.
Skeletal muscles also play a role in maintaining body posture and stability by working together to support the body’s frame and keep it upright against the force of gravity [2,3]. In this case, the abdominal muscles including the obliques and paraspinal muscles, muscles that run all the way along the back of the spine, including the psoas and quadratus lumborum, help stabilize the spine and pelvis [4]. These muscles help us sit, stand, and move with proper alignment. These muscles continuously adjust their tension to counteract the external forces and help us maintain balance and stability throughout the day.
Another important function of skeletal muscles is their ability to help regulate body temperature through heat generation. Since muscle contraction requires energy, also known at ATP, the source of energy for use at a cellular level. When ATP is broken down, heat is produced, and this is why the body gets warm during strenuous exercise, lots of muscle contractions [2,3]. It is also how the body can keep warm in the cold. For example, in extreme cases, shivering causes muscle contractions which in turn produce heat. Through increasing or decreasing muscle activity, the body can regulate heat production and maintain stable internal body temperatures.
Lastly, skeletal muscles help protect internal organs, mainly pelvic and abdominal organs by acting as a barrier to block external trauma and through supporting the weight of the organs. Skeletal muscles can be found at the openings of internal tract to control the movements of swallowing, urination, and defecation and allow them to be under voluntary control [3].
Since skeletal muscles play such an important role in daily movement and function, it is important to keep these muscles healthy and strong. A few ways to keep muscles healthy are to exercise regularly, including both cardio and strength training, eat a healthy diet with a lot of protein, vegetables, and fruit, maintain a healthy weight, warm up before exercise, and stretch regularly [1,2].
Be Smart. Take care of yourself. And check on your teammates.
Sources:
[1] Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.-b). Skeletal muscle. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21787-skeletal-muscle
[2] Whitten, C. (2022, September 8). Skeletal muscle: What to know. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/skeletal-muscle-what-to-know
[3] Libretexts. (2023, February 2). 5.5: Skeletal muscle functions and structures. Biology LibreTexts. https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/Cosumnes_River_College/Introductory_Anatomy_and_Physiology_(Aptekar)/05%3A_Muscular_System/5.05%3A_Skeletal_Muscle_Functions_and_Structures
[4] Physiopedia. (n.d.). Universal Access to Rehabilitation Knowledge. https://www.physio-pedia.com/home/