What are the Main Parts of the Muscular System?
The human body contains hundreds of muscles. They connect to the skeletal system to give people the ability to move. They also aid in digestion and keep the heart beating. There are three main parts of the muscular system.Cardiac MuscleThe cardiac muscle (the heart) is regulated by electrical impulses beyond conscious control. Cardiac muscle is striated and has multiple nuclei, like skeletal muscle. Cells of the cardiac muscle are branched and connected to one another to maximize communication. As an electrical impulse travels through the cells into branches, then into another cell, the muscles contract, which is a heartbeat.Smooth MuscleSmooth muscles, like the cardiac muscle, are involuntary. These muscles are controlled by hormones and the nervous system. Smooth muscle makes up many of the internal organs, including the gallbladder and arteries.Skeletal MuscleSkeletal muscle is striated and has very long fibers, or individual cells with several nuclei. Most of the skeletal muscle mo
