15.5
Muscoli assiali e appendicolari
I muscoli scheletrici, protagonisti del movimento del nostro corpo, possono essere classificati in due gruppi in base alla loro posizione e funzione:…
I muscoli scheletrici si dividono principalmente in due gruppi: quello assiale e quello appendicolare.
I muscoli assiali presenti lungo la linea mediana del corpo sono principalmente collegati con le regioni della testa, del collo e del tronco.
Nella testa e nel collo, i muscoli assiali sono vitali per le espressioni facciali, il parlare, il mangiare e i vari movimenti della testa.
Inoltre, alcuni muscoli del collo assistono i muscoli posteriori del tronco, comunemente indicati come muscoli della schiena, nei movimenti della colonna vertebrale.
I muscoli toracici, insieme ai muscoli addominali come il retto, l'obliquo e il trasversale, stabiliscono le pareti anterolaterali del tronco.
Infine, lo scheletro assiale inferiore ha muscoli che si estendono tra l'osso sacro e il cingolo pelvico, creando il pavimento pelvico.
D'altra parte, i muscoli appendicolari sono quelli associati al cingolo pettorale, al cingolo pelvico e agli arti.
Questi muscoli stabilizzano e sostengono le strutture in movimento durante la camminata, la corsa e altre attività fisiche.
I muscoli appendicolari relativi all'arto superiore vanno dalle spalle alle mani, mentre i muscoli degli arti inferiori vanno dai fianchi ai piedi.
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Q1: What is the main difference between axial and appendicular muscles?
Axial muscles are located along the body's midline and connect to the axial skeleton, including the skull, spine, ribs, and sternum. They control facial expressions, head and neck movements, speaking, and eating. Appendicular muscles, by contrast, attach to the pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle, and limbs, providing stability and enabling movement during activities like walking and running.
Q2: Which axial muscles form the walls of the trunk?
The thoracic muscles and abdominal muscles, including the rectus, oblique, and transverse muscles, form the anterolateral walls of the trunk. These muscles of the abdomen provide structural support and stability to the torso, protecting internal organs and enabling trunk movements and breathing.
Q3: What role do axial muscles play in head and neck movements?
Axial muscles in the head and neck are vital for facial expressions, talking, and eating. Additionally, some neck muscles work with posterior trunk muscles to assist in movements of the vertebral column. These muscles of the vertebral column coordinate to enable flexion, extension, and rotation of the spine.
Q4: How do appendicular muscles support limb movement?
Appendicular muscles stabilize and support moving structures during physical activities like walking and running. Upper limb muscles extend from the shoulders to the hands, enabling precise hand movements. Lower limb muscles stretch from the hips to the feet, providing mobility and balance during locomotion and weight-bearing activities.
Q5: What muscles form the pelvic floor?
The lower axial skeleton contains muscles that extend between the sacrum and pelvic girdle, creating the pelvic floor. These muscles of the pelvic floor and perineum provide support for pelvic organs and contribute to core stability during movement and posture maintenance.
Q6: Where are appendicular muscles located in the upper and lower limbs?
Upper appendicular muscles extend from the shoulders down to the hands, enabling intricate tasks and arm movements. Lower appendicular muscles stretch from the hips to the feet, ensuring mobility and balance. Both regions contain muscles that attach to the pectoral and pelvic girdles, respectively, allowing coordinated limb function.
Q7: How do axial muscles contribute to facial expressions and eating?
Axial muscles in the head and neck are essential for creating facial expressions and controlling jaw and mouth movements during eating. These muscles for facial expressions work in coordination with muscles around the mouth and eyes to produce the varied expressions humans use for communication and food manipulation.