We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Mechanics of Muscle Movement?

By Adam Hill
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 30,481
Share

Muscle movement is a biological phenomenon that has only relatively recently come to be fully understood by scientists. A highly complex sequence of events, many taking place on a molecular level, which brings about muscle movement. There are different types of muscles in the body, but only skeletal muscle -- the muscles that move bones and joints -- are controlled voluntarily. Muscles which control the circulatory system and certain organ functions move without our control, and often without us ever noticing.

Skeletal muscles are composed of long, thin cells that are also known as muscle fibers. Each microscopic muscle fiber contains the mechanisms necessary to cause muscle movement on a small scale. Blood vessels and neurons are present in and around bundled groups of muscle fibers, and they provide the energy and the nerve information needed to move the muscle.

Each muscle fiber is itself a bundle of smaller units called myofibrils, where muscle movement originates. Inside each myofibril are strands or filaments made of two different proteins called actin and myosin. These protein strands are anchored to the structure of the myofibril, and lie parallel to each other. When acted upon by a nerve impulse, the protein filaments push past each other, like the oars of a rowboat through water.

The protein filaments are able to do this by using chemical energy derived from a compound known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is among the more essential chemicals present in the body. It allows the operation of every muscle, including the heart and the diaphragm, and life would immediately cease without it.

When the myosin and actin filaments move past each other from a relaxed state, the muscle fiber as a whole contracts. When all the cells in a muscle contract in the same direction, the muscle moves the bone it is attached to in that direction. Conversely, when the muscle fibers then relax, the muscle as a whole relaxes also. There are other, very complex chemical reactions which occur, involving calcium and other elements that aid in switching muscle contractions on and off, but the mechanics of muscle movement are carried out by the protein filaments.

Muscles are often grouped in pairs, where a contraction of one muscle moves a bone a certain way, and a contraction of the other muscle moves it the opposite way. This is the case with the biceps and triceps muscles of the upper arm. When an impulse is given by the central nervous system to contract the biceps, a corresponding impulse occurs to relax the triceps, and vice versa. These simultaneous impulses are necessary to allow for freedom of movement in both directions.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon140596 — On Jan 08, 2011

excellent explanation. All bodybuilders should know how their tools work.

By anon102521 — On Aug 08, 2010

Fabulous explanation, thanks. it was a great help!

By anon87239 — On May 29, 2010

Thanks, great explanation.

By anon75407 — On Apr 06, 2010

exactly what i needed to know for college work.

Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-are-the-mechanics-of-muscle-movement.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.