Function of the muscular system
• Provides movement in conjunction with the skeletal system
• Important in life support
• Used by humans for food
Classifications of Muscles
• Voluntary: Movement of the muscle is under the control of the animal
• Involuntary: Movement of the muscle is not controlled by the animal
Types of Muscles
• Smooth Muscles: Involuntary muscles, found in the walls of internal organs and the blood vessels. • Cardiac Muscles: Muscles that form a network to make up the heart.
• Skeletal Muscles: Have a striped appearance, include voluntary and involuntary, attached to and moves your bones. This is a majority of the muscle tissue in your body.
Muscles of the Front Limb
• The largest and most important muscle attaching the front legs to the body is the serratus ventralis. It is fan shaped and supports the trunk of the body between the legs.
Muscles of the Back Limb
• The primary movements are extension and flexion.
• The main extensor muscle of the hip is the hamstring.
• Movement of the hock is primarily accomplished by flexors and extensors
Muscles of the Trunk, Head and Neck
• The loin muscle is responsible for extension of the spinal column
• Many of the muscles originate from the vertebrae
• There is greater flexibility in the neck than in the spinal column because of the muscles within
Common muscles found in livestock animals
• A. The masseter is the superficial muscle of the cheek that aids in chewing and biting movements. • B. The trapezius is the superficial, triangular muscle of the shoulder that helps move front appendages.
Common muscles found in livestock animals?
• C. The latissimus dorsi is a long muscle that connects the humerus bone of the forearm to the back of the animal.
• D. The abdominal obliques are large muscles that run along the sides of the animal and help support the internal organs of digestion and reproduction.
• E. The gluteals are the large muscles in the upper hind quarter region of the animal that aid in rear leg movement.
common muscles found in livestock animals?
• F. The biceps femoris is a large muscle found in the rear leg of an animal.
• G. The biceps brachii is the muscle responsible for the flexing of the front legs (elbow joint) of an animal.
• H. The triceps brachii is the muscle responsible for the extension of the front legs (elbow joint) of an animal.
What are the common muscles found in livestock and companion animals?
• I. The pectorals are large muscles that run across the chest of the animal and are responsible for the primary movement of the front legs.
• J. The serratus ventralis are muscles that connect the forelimbs (or front legs) to the trunk of the animal