Locomotion and Movement – Notes

Locomotion and Movement
Movement is one of the most important characteristics of all living beings.
Movement resulting in a change of location is called locomotion.
There are three main types of movement-amoeboid, ciliary and muscular.
Amoeboid movement is the simplest form of movement and is due to protoplasmic streaming.
Ciliary movement occurs in the internal tubular organs lined by ciliated epithelium.
Muscular movement is brought about by contractile muscles, which help in body movements and locomotion.
Locomotion is brought about by the coordination of the muscular, skeletal and neural systems in the body.

Muscles and Contractile Proteins
Muscle tissue originates from the mesoderm and has special properties such as excitability, contractility, extensibility and elasticity.
Based on their location, muscles are classified into three types, namely skeletal, visceral and cardiac.
Skeletal muscles are striated and voluntary and help in locomotion and different body postures.
Visceral muscles are unstriated and involuntary and are found in the inner walls of hollow visceral organs.
The cardiac muscle is a contractile, involuntary muscle found only in the heart.