Dr. Buck here with a quiz about your muscles.
Last week, the topic pertained to a pectoralis major muscle rupture and repair. Specifically, it talked about a rupture of the tendon of this chest muscle as it inserts into the upper arm (humerus) bone.
Today we will go back to the basics. By their contraction, skeletal muscles are responsible for human locomotion, erect posture and extremity movement. First a quiz to see what you know:
- Skeleton muscle always has tendons at each end that attach to bone.
True or False
- Muscles enlarge with weight training by stimulating an increase in the number of muscle cells?
True or False
- If two people have the same body weight but one has more muscle weight, which individual burns more calories at rest?
- Orthopedic surgeons rarely operate on muscle injuries
True or False
- Humans are born with a set ratio of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers.
True or False
- Flexing muscles is independent of the nervous system of the body.
True or False
- Some muscles tend to push, others tend to pull.
True or False
- Muscle atrophy can be caused by:
a: muscle or tendon injury
b: nerve damage
c: weightlessness
d: a & c
e: all of the above
- With heavy weight training, muscles enlarge by creating micro-tears and resultant repair.
True or False
- What is the longest muscle of the body?
- What is the biggest muscle?
- Does shivering help when you are cold?
How do you think you did?
Here are the answers:
- Skeleton muscle always has tendons at each end that attach to bone.
True. Muscle fibers themselves never attach to bone.
2. Muscles enlarge with weight training by stimulating an increase in the number of muscle cells?
False. You are born with a certain number of muscle cells and you never add to this number. Muscles enlarge by fiber enlargement and an increase in fiber number, not by cell multiplication like so many other areas of the body.
3. If two people have the same body weight but one has more muscle weight, which individual burns more calories at rest?
Answer: The individual with greater muscle mass will burn more calories at rest. It’s a fact, muscle burns more calories than fat.
4. Orthopedic surgeons rarely operate on muscle injuries
True. It is almost impossible to surgically repair a torn muscle. It’s like trying to stitch two ends of a paintbrush together. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve tried to repair a muscle fiber injury.
On the other hand, I have surgically repaired torn tendons (remember, they are always present at the end of muscles) hundreds of times. Repairs are common with Achilles tendon ruptures, quad ruptures, patellar tendon ruptures, pectoralis tendon ruptures, rotator cuff tendon ruptures, biceps ruptures, and triceps tendon ruptures.
5. Humans are born with a set ratio of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers.
True. We have inherently different body builds, sports abilities and sports aptitudes. Some of us are born with a greater percentage of fast twitch fibers which is helpful for sports that require precise reaction responses. Others are born with more slow twitch fibers which would tend to be more helpful for endurance type of activities. However, one can train their bodies to overcome these tendencies.
6. Flexing muscles is independent of the nervous system of the body.
False. In order to activate your muscles, your brain must send an impulse through a motor neuron (nerve) to stimulate the muscle into action
7. Some muscles tend to push, others tend to pull
False. Muscles can only contract or pull, no muscle can actually push.
8. Muscle atrophy can be caused by:
a: muscle or tendon injury
b: nerve damage
c: weightlessness
d: a & c
e: all of the above
9. With heavy weight training, muscles enlarge by creating micro-tears and resultant repair.
True. These micro-tears cause a multiplication of muscle fibers and a thickening of the fibers, both create bigger overall muscle mass.
10. What is the longest muscle of the body?
The sartorius, which runs down the length of the thigh.
11. What is the biggest muscle?
By volume, the gluteus maximus.
12. Does shivering help when you are cold?
Yes. Shivering rapidly contracts your muscles and releases heat in your body.
So now you know more about muscles with some factoids you can throw out at your next cocktail party. Obviously the ISU football team lifts extraordinary weights and eats high protein-high caloric meals to build their impressive muscular physiques.
