Corpus

Muscular System

Over 600 muscles that generate every movement, from a heartbeat to a sprint.

By The Corpus Atlas Editorial TeamUpdated Last reviewed How we source this

Muscle tissue converts chemical energy into force. Skeletal muscle — the kind you can train — is also one of the body's most responsive tissues, adapting within weeks to the demands placed on it, whether that's heavy resistance training or long periods of inactivity.

Key organs & structures

How it connects

Skeletal system

Muscle strength directly protects joints from injury by absorbing load.

Endocrine system

Muscle tissue itself acts as an endocrine organ, releasing signalling molecules during exercise.

Deep-dive guides in the muscular system

Conditions involving this system

Symptoms involving this system

Did you know?

  • The gluteus maximus is the single largest muscle in the human body.
  • Muscle loss without intervention can begin as early as the 30s, which is why strength training is protective at every age.