Andrew Siegel MD 8/5/2023
Today’s entry is a break from the usual — a brief Jeopardy-like quiz on human muscles with a little bit of urology thrown in. Take the 10-question challenge and see how you do! Answers follow the questions.
The human body is an intricate and marvelous creation, and our muscles play a crucial role in allowing us to move, stabilize, and perform various functions. In this blog, we explore some intriguing facts about different muscles in the body, from the tiniest to the mightiest. Let’s delve into the world of muscles!
Questions:
1. What is the smallest muscle in the body?
2. What is the largest muscle in the body?
3. What muscle in the body is responsible for increasing the size of a certain organ fourfold when that organ is stimulated?
4. What is the longest muscle in the body?
5. What is the strongest muscle in the body?
6. What is the most resilient endurance muscle?
7. What is the least respected muscle group in the body?
8. What muscles are your best friends in the bedroom?
9. What is the most flexible muscle in the body?
10. What is the most tender muscle in the body?
Answers:
1. What is the smallest muscle in the body?
The stapedius muscle in the middle ear. It is only about 1 millimeter in length (25 millimeters in one inch) and functions to stabilize the stapes bone, particularly when loud noises and sounds enter the ear.
Tie goes to the arrector pili muscles, aka hair erector muscles. These are the 1 millimeter or so muscles attached to hair follicles that when contracted cause hairs to stand on end, aka “goose bumps.”
2. What is the largest muscle in the body?
The gluteus maximus in the buttocks. The “max” in the name is a dead giveaway. This muscle gives a lovely shape and definition to the derriere and is responsible for stabilizing the hip joint and in our ability to move our thighs.
3. What muscle in the body is responsible for increasing the size of a certain organ fourfold when that organ is stimulated?
Funny, when I ask this question to women, the predominant answer is the penis. The average flaccid penis is about 3.5 inches, so if this was the correct answer, the stimulated penis would be 14 inches! Now, wouldn’t that be nice, an extreme “grower,” but clearly not the case. On the other hand, most men don’t know the right answer, but they know it’s not the penis.
The correct answer is the iris muscle of the eye, which will dilate the pupil from 2 millimeters in diameter in bright light to 8 millimeters in dark.
4. What is the longest muscle in the body?
The sartorius muscle, the superficial muscle that runs the entire length of the thigh. Sartorius trivia: the name derives from the Latin word “sartor,“ meaning “tailor,” and it is sometimes referred to as the “tailor’s muscle“ because of the cross-legged position in which tailors once sat. More sartorius trivia: This muscle is also sometimes referred to as the “honeymoon muscle,” since it abducts and laterally rotates the thigh as well as flexes the knee, causing the vagina to be exposed.
5. What is the strongest muscle in the body?
The masseter, aka the jaw muscle. It can close the teeth with a force of 55 pounds on the incisors and 200 pounds on the molars.
6. What is the most resilient endurance muscle?
Our heart, the incredible powerhouse of the circulatory system, deserves recognition as the most resilient endurance muscle. It tirelessly beats over 3 billion times in a person’s lifetime, making it essential to cherish and care for it.
7. What is the least respected muscle group in the body?
Probably the pelvic floor muscles that form the floor of the core group of muscles. They are out of sight, hidden, not well known, and not the muscles of show; however, they are responsible for vital functions including pelvic organ support, urinary and bowel control, and contribute strongly to sexual function.
8. What muscles are your best friends in the bedroom?
The bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles. In the male, they transform the engorged penis to a rigid penis by compressing the erectile chambers (responsible for penile high blood pressure), enable one to move his erect penis up and down at will, stabilize the erect penis so it stays rigid and skyward-angled, and contract at climax, responsible for forcible expulsion of semen.
In the female, they increase pelvic blood flow during arousal, contributing to lubrication and plumping of the vulva, transform the clitoris from flaccid to erect, enable tightening of the vagina at will, and contract at the time of climax, contributing to physical sensation of orgasm.
9. What is the most flexible muscle in the body?
The tongue muscle is extremely supple and has a huge range of motion, allowing for speaking, swallowing, sucking, licking, and indulging in various tastes and sensations.
10. What is the most tender muscle in the body?
The psoas muscle is the most tender muscle in the body. It is paraspinal muscle that runs deep along the vertebral column, the kidneys resting on top of the muscle. It runs down the lumbar spine to the groin, and functions to flex the hip. In a cow, this muscle is famously known as the tenderloin or filet mignon.
Our muscles are a testament to the incredible design and functionality of the human body. From the smallest to the most substantial, each muscle serves a unique purpose, contributing to our everyday movements and experiences. Let’s appreciate and take care of these remarkable muscles that make our lives possible!
Wishing you the best of health,
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Dr. Andrew Siegel is a physician and urological surgeon who is board-certified in urology as well as in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. His mission is to “bridge the gap” between the public and the medical community.
He is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor New York Metro Area, Inside Jersey Top Doctor and Inside Jersey Top Doctor for Women’s Health. He is a urologist at New Jersey Urology, a Summit Health Company. He is the co-founder of PelvicRx and Private Gym.
Dr. Siegel is the author of several books. The newly revised second edition (June 2023) of Prostate Cancer 20/20: A Practical Guide to Understanding Management Options for Patients and Their Families is now available in print and Kindle formats on Amazon.
Video trailer for Prostate Cancer 20/20
Preview of Prostate Cancer 20/20
Andrew Siegel MD Amazon author page
Dr. Siegel’s other books:
THE KEGEL FIX: Recharging Female Pelvic, Sexual, and Urinary Health
MALE PELVIC FITNESS: Optimizing Sexual and Urinary Health
Promiscuous Eating: Understanding and Ending Our Self-Destructive Relationship with Food
Our Greatest Wealth Is Health 