Know more about Muscles

Introduction 

You can see lot of youngsters sweating out in four-walled gymnasium and health clubs. It is a fashion trend now-a-days to have a muscular structure to attract people and to make a distinct place in the group. It seems everyone today is running after having a muscular body. Before building your muscles, let us try to learn something about this special part of our body. 


Muscles are essentially made of fibers which help in moving the various parts of our body. Each fiber is made up of long thin cells which are packed in bundles. Myosin and actin are the two kinds of protein present in fibers. Perimysium is a thin skin that covers each bundle. More bundles of fibers indicate that the muscles are big. Muscles also consists nerves which carry messages to and from the brain. Blood vessels in muscles help in providing energy to the muscles and carry away the waste. 


Types of muscles 


Primary function of muscles is to provide movement to the different parts of the body. Many of the muscles are termed as skeletal muscles as they are attached to the bones. Muscles can be categorized in two ways depending upon the shape and functioning. Depending on the shape of the muscles, they can be categorized into four types which are as follows:

• Spindle shaped muscles- this type of muscles are thick in the middle and thinner at the ends. Muscles of your biceps and triceps of upper arms are the best example for this kind of muscles. Bend your arm up to see the shape of such muscles.
  
• Flat muscles- they are flat in shape such as muscles in your diaphragm and forehead.
• Triangular muscles- this muscle is like the deltoid muscle which is present at the top of your arm. This muscle helps in pulling your arm up.
  
• Circular muscles- these muscles are found in many parts of our body, also called as ring-shaped muscles. Muscles around the mouth, pupils of the eyes, inside the bladder and the anus when you have finished going to the toilet.
  

Muscles can also be categorized in another ways as voluntary muscles and involuntary muscles. Voluntary muscles are the one that can work when the message is sent to the brain. In simple ways, these muscles work in control condition. Muscles of your arms, legs are the best example of voluntary muscles. Involuntary muscles do not need any messages from the brain to work. They know their job perfectly and accomplish it without any order from the brain. Muscles in your heart, digestive system and the tiny muscles at the bottom of the hairs are the best examples of involuntary muscles. 

Keeping the muscles healthy 


There are only two ways of keeping the muscles healthy, by eating right food and by exercising. Muscles get energy to work efficiently from glucose. Therefore, foods that are rich in carbohydrates or glucose shall be taken to keep the muscles healthy. Foods such as meat, egg, fish and broccoli are rich in carbohydrates.


Regular exercise is the best way to keep the muscles active. Always perform some stretching exercise to flexibility to the muscles. While exercising during summer, drink lot of water to prevent stiffness after the work out. Sweating and not drinking lot of water leads to problem called muscle spasm. Too much of stretching can also develop strain in the muscles.


Eating foods such as fruits, vegetables, pasta, bread and potatoes can give enough fuel to your muscles to work efficiently. To have strong and healthy muscles, include foods like milk products, fish and meat in your diet.