Muscles
Musculi
- Related terms: Muscles; Muscular system
Definition
The muscular system is an organ system consisting of skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscles. It permits movement of the body, maintains posture, and circulates blood throughout the body. The muscular system in vertebrates is controlled through the nervous system, although some muscles (such as the cardiac muscle) can be completely autonomous.
There are approximately 650 skeletal muscles in the human body.