Muscles

The skeletal muscular system of the human body comprises over 600 individual skeletal muscles and in terms of body bulk makes up approximately 40% of the body's weight. Muscles essentially serve three purposes: body motion, body heat and body posture and support. There are three types of muscles within the body, smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles provide movement of the human body in response to stimulation from the peripheral nervous system; movement is achieved by contraction of the muscles in response to nerve stimuli

Muscles that attach to bone are said to have a point of origin and a point of insertion. Both ends of a muscle are attached to the bone by a tendon. A tendon is a tough fibrous tissue band that connects to the periosteum of the bone, which is the outer layer of the bone. Muscles generally function as units; muscles that contract together are referred to as synergistic. Antagonistic muscles perform opposite functions and are generally located on the opposite side of the limb