subject: 5 Characteristics Of Muscle Tissue Vital To The Human Body [print this page] The muscular system is vital to the human body. It is important from the point of view that it helps in movement. One cant imagine the consequences if we could move or grow! We would, in all probability wouldnt have existed in the first place. The muscle tissues in addition in making us move are even more important due to the following characteristics.
1.Excitability: What is our normal reaction when we touch a hot plate? We immediately withdraw the part in contact with the hot object. This is known as stimulus and the human body is programmed to respond to stimuli. The muscle tissues in our body send signals to the brain and the brain tells the body to move out all this happens within a fraction of a second! Had this taken any longer, we would have burnt our hands, till the time our brain told us to remove the hand!
All this and more is possible because of the excitability function of the muscle tissues.
2.Contractility: In simple words, our muscles can contract. One might question the need for our muscles to contract. If our muscles wouldnt contract, then we wouldnt be able to lift things or sit. The folding of our muscles is actually contraction taking place and this is the bodys unique self-accommodating system that helps the muscles be contained within the same frame rather than tearing out for space!
Also, due to this contraction, a power is developed in the muscles which give the energy to perform strenuous activities.
3.Extensibility: This is the opposite of the previous function. There has to be a similar opposite action in nature and that is best shown by this muscle functioning. After the muscle contracts, it must extend to release the energy which it had stored while contraction.
Think of it as when we stretch and when we pull things without muscle extension, it would not have been possible. Also, extension of the muscles helps growth and is somewhat indirectly related to control of the body temperature (both contraction and extension in pair).
4.Elasticity: If our muscles werent elastic, we would have been longer and taller with each extension! Think of the phenomena as a rubber band it is elastic to a certain limit, beyond which, it breaks. Similarly, our muscles stretch to a certain limit without injury and then come back to its original shape and size. Elasticity of muscle fibers is extremely important.
5.Conductivity: The muscle tissues in our body conduct ion exchange and help carry electrical impulses from the brain and nerves to the body parts and vice-versa. This is achieved by the muscles maintaining a steady electrical field which facilitates the movement of charged ions.
MMA workouts will help maintain the above mentioned characteristics of the muscle tissues and keep you in good health.
