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17 Jul 2007 05:04 AM

M is for Muscles

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

Your body has three different types of muscles. It's important to understand a little about your own physiology when it comes to exercising properly and building a fitness program.

The first type of muscle is called skeletal muscle or voluntary muscles. Tendons anchor these muscles to the bones and they are important for the control of locomotion and posture. Despite being called voluntary muscles, this control is often maintained as a reflex rather than something you have to think about doing. You can, however, exert some influence over them - such as when you consciously sit up straighter in the chair.

The second type of muscle is called the involuntary or smooth muscle. These are the muscles that you find in your organ walls and have specific functions. For example, smooth muscle lines the walls of your esophagus and help you swallow and transport food and drink from your mouth to your stomach. You don't control any of these muscles as they are an involuntary reflex that must happen - after all, you wouldn't want to forget to swallow, would you?

The third type of muscle is purely involuntary and is called cardiac muscle. Obviously, this is your heart muscle. The heart is not smooth, but rather it's striated like skeletal muscles, but you have no conscious control over your heart. You can't consciously slow down your heart rate without controlling your breathing and other voluntary functions that may influence the involuntary one. This is a good thing or you might forget to make your heart beat while you are asleep.

Most involuntary muscles are vital to your everyday survival. Each type of muscle, however, is influenced by your fitness and workout styles. You can improve all three types of muscles through regular exercise, healthy nutrition and getting plenty of sleep. Your heart benefits from cardiovascular routines or aerobic workouts. Your skeletal muscles respond well to both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Your smooth muscles (those in your organs) respond to both in the sense that they benefit from your overall health and fitness.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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