File:Human physiology (1907) (14765842274).jpg

Identifier: cu31924031263597 (find matches)
Title: Human physiology
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Furneaux, William S
Subjects: Human physiology
Publisher: London New York : Longmans, Green
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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-Side View of the Muscles of theFace and Neck. Muscles may be made to contract by the application of some kind ofStimulus or irritant. The stimulus is generally conveyed to the muscularfibres by means of the nerve which distributes its branches among them. Butmuscular contraction may also be produced by mechanical irritation, such as 48 ELEMENTARY PHYSIOLOGY pinching or cutting; or by electrical irritation, such as is produced by theelectric shock ; or by chemical stimuli, such as irritant poisons. Muscles may be made to respond to stimuli not only during life, but alsoshortly after death has occurred. Thus, the limbs of a recently killed frogmay be made to jump violently hy sending an electric current through them. Just after death, the muscles of an animal are soft and pliantas during life; but after a short time they become so stiff and
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. Si- -Back View of the Musclesof the Trunk. Fig. 52.—Back- View of the Muscles of the Arm. The large central muscle of the upper arm is the bicefs muscle. hard that it is impossible to bend the limbs without a danger ofinjuring the bones or joints. This death-stiffening, or rigormortis, is due to the coagulation (Lat. co, together, and ago, I drive)of a fluid substance in the muscle, called myosin. In the human THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM 49 body this coagulation usually sets in at from four to six hours afterdeath, and continues for one, two, or three days. The erect position of the human body is maintained by thecombined influence of a large number of muscles acting at the sametime. The whole weight of the body rests on the arches of thefeet; and the body may be supported in any position providingits centre of gravity is situated vertically over any point in thespace enclosed by the feet. On account of the large number andsuppleness of the joints, the centre of gravity cannot be main-

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