How many muscles are in the human body?
The number of muscles in the human body varies from about 656 to 850, depending on which expert you consult. No exact figure is available because there are a variety of opinions about what constitutes a distinct muscle (versus a part of a complex muscle). Also, there is some variability in muscular structure between individuals. There are three categories of muscle: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. The skeletal muscles consist of striped or striated fibers. They move the various parts of the body. Skeletal muscles are considered “voluntary” muscles because the person controls their use. The second category is smooth muscles. These muscles are found in the stomach and intestinal walls, vein and artery walls, and in various internal organs. Smooth muscles are called “involuntary” because they cannot be made to work by conscious choice, but are controlled by the autonomic…
