Changes

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

Muscular contraction is necessary for voluntary and involuntary movement of limbs, stabilization of joints, maintaining luminal diameter (in the case of arteries, bowel, etc), and to produce heat.  Three types of muscle can be described:

Muscle mass accounts for a large majority of the carcass weight of domestic animals.  Muscular contraction is necessary for voluntary and involuntary movement of limbs, stabilization of joints, maintaining luminal diameter (in the case of arteries, bowel, etc), and to produce heat.  The number of muscle fibers an individual possesses is determined by genetics and is set at birth.  Further muscle development therefore occurs by hypertrophy, rather than hyperplasia of muscle fibers.  Three types of muscle can be described:

*Skeletal (aka Striated, Somatic, Voluntary)

*Skeletal (aka Striated, Somatic, Voluntary)

*Smooth (aka Visceral)

*Smooth (aka Visceral)