Striated Muscles, Recognize Forms, Functions, and How They Work

Striated muscles are muscles attached to bones and joints, so maintaining posture and moving the body is its main function. Unlike smooth and cardiac muscles, striated muscles work under voluntary control

Striated muscles or skeletal muscles are composed of muscle cells (myocytes) and flexible fibers. The amount in the body is almost 700 muscles or about 30-40% of body weight.

The end of this muscle is attached to one end of the bone and the other end is attached to another bone. The part of the striated muscle that attaches directly to the bone is also called the tendon. Because they are attached to bones, striated muscles are found throughout the body. Some examples of striated muscles are the calf muscles, shoulder muscles, biceps and triceps.

Structure and Working of Striated Muscles

When viewed through a microscope, striated muscle fibers look elongated with many cell nuclei at the edges. One striated muscle fiber contains many proteins called myofibrils

All myofibrils are made up of many protein segments, which are sarcomeres. Sarcomeres give light and dark colors to striated muscles, so that these muscles appear to have transverse lines. Sarcomeres also support muscle contractions in moving bones.

So that its form and function are not disturbed, striated muscles have three layers of wrapping, namely:

• Endomysium, the innermost layer that encloses a single muscle fiber
• Perimisium, a middle layer that binds several muscle fibers together
• Epimysium,  the outermost layer that lines several bundles of muscle fibers

Striated muscles also have blood vessels that can carry oxygen and nutrients so the muscles can work properly. The work of striated muscles is also influenced by somatic nerves which work under conscious control

When the brain orders certain limbs to move, the autonomic nerves will stimulate the muscles to contract. When contraction occurs, the muscles will shorten and pull the bones so that the limbs move

Striated Muscle Functions for the Body

Striated muscles are an important part of the musculoskeletal system. This makes the function of striated muscles for the body very diverse. Some of the functions of striated muscles include:

1. Move your body

The main function of striated muscles is to move the body, just like the muscles in the legs and feet support the movement of walking. This is influenced by the work of the autonomic nerves and muscle contractions

2. Swallow food and drink

In the process of swallowing, food and drink will be pushed into the esophagus through a complex process. This swallowing movement also arises due to the function of various striated muscles in the oral cavity and esophagus, such as the muscles of the tongue and jaw muscles.

3. Urinating and defecating

Apart from the throat, striated muscles can also be found at the end of the urinary and digestive tracts. Thus, this muscle has a fairly important role in urinating or defecating

4. Maintain body posture

Striated muscles also function to maintain body posture. With the striated muscles, the bones can stay in their normal position. In fact, striated muscles are also able to keep joints stable and strong

5. Maintain body temperature

Striated muscles can maintain body temperature. When contracting, this muscle will use energy known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to produce heat.

For example, your body will shiver when you are cold. This can happen because the body feels a lower temperature than usual and makes the muscles react to produce heat. Well, the heat released by the muscles is what makes the body temperature return to normal.

6. Storing nutrients

Striated muscles have the function of storing amino acids and glycogen. The body will use amino acids to make protein as needed and use glycogen as an energy source so that the body can move

7. Protects organs

Striated muscles also function to protect organs, especially the stomach. If this muscle loses its function, the organs in the abdominal cavity can protrude.

8. Smooth breathing

Respiratory function is also affected by striated muscles. The reason is, this muscle is also needed to expand and contract the chest cavity so that you can breathe properly

Signs of Disorders of the Skeletal Muscles

The most common sign of a striated muscle disorder or problem is muscle pain and muscle cramps. These complaints usually arise after strenuous exercise and will disappear by themselves in a few days.

If the disorder of the striated muscles leads to serious things, the following are the symptoms or signs that will be felt:

• Weakness or difficulty moving a limb
• Loss of control over urination
• Difficulty swallowing
• Lost balance
• Easy to fall off

If you have a striated muscle disorder that persists for a long time or doesn't go away even after self-medication, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will do an examination to find out the exact cause and determine the appropriate treatment Label : Family cat_Family