Movement is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of living things. All living things, including animals and plants, have a variety of movements. When it comes to unicellular organisms such as Amoeba, protoplasm streaming is a straightforward mode of movement. Movement of cilia, flagella, and tentacles is demonstrated by a wide variety of organisms. Human beings have the ability to move their limbs, jaws, eyelids, tongue, and so on. Some of the movements result in a change of location or a change of environment. Locomotion is the term used to describe such voluntary movements. Locomotory movements include walking, running, climbing, flying, and swimming, to name a few examples. It is not necessary for locomotive structures to be distinct from those affecting other types of movement. Cauliflower, for example, has cilia that aid in the movement of food through the cytopharynx and in the movement of the organism itself. The tentacles of the hydra can be used to capture prey as well as to propel the creature forward.
Modes of Locomotion
The modes of locomotion used by animals vary depending on their environment and the demands of the situation. However, locomotion is typically used in the search for food, shelter, a mate, suitable breeding grounds, favourable climatic conditions, or to flee from enemies or predators, among other things.
Types of Locomotion
Amoeboid, ciliary, and muscular movements are the three main types of movements that cells in the human body can exhibit.
Amoeboid
There are some specialised cells in our body, such as macrophages and leucocytes in the blood, that move like amoeboid structures. It is caused by pseudopodia that are formed as a result of the streaming of protoplasm.
Ciliary
Our internal tubular organs are lined by ciliated epithelium, and therefore most of our internal tubular organs have ciliary movement. The coordinated movements of cilia in the trachea assist us in removing dust particles and some of the foreign substances that are inhaled along with the ambient air that we breathe. Movement of the female reproductive tract is also made easier by the passage of ova through the female reproductive tract.
Muscular
Muscular movement is required for the movement of our limbs, jaws, tongue, and other body parts. Human beings and the vast majority of multicellular organisms make effective use of the contractile property of muscles for locomotion and other movements.
Flagellar movement aids in the swimming of spermatozoa, the maintenance of water current in the canal system of sponges, and the locomotion of Protozoans such as Euglena, among other things.
Muscular Locomotion
Muscle is a specialised tissue that derives from the mesodermal lineage. Muscles account for approximately 40-50 percent of the total body weight of an adult human being. Special properties such as excitability, contractility, extensibility, and elasticity distinguish them from other materials. Muscles have been classified according to a number of different criteria, including their location, appearance, and the manner in which they regulate their activities. Muscles can be classified into three types based on where they are located: Among the three types of pain are: skeletal, visceral, and cardiac.
Skeletal muscles
Skeletal muscles are intimately linked to the body’s skeletal components on a molecular level. Striated muscles are so named because they have a striped appearance under a microscope and are therefore striated in appearance. Because their activities are controlled by the nervous system on a voluntary basis, they are referred to as voluntary muscles as well. They are primarily involved in locomotory actions and changes in body postures, but they also have other roles.
Visceral muscles
These muscles are found in the inner walls of hollow visceral organs of the body, such as the alimentary canal, reproductive tract, and other similar areas of the body. They do not have any striations and have a smooth texture to their appearance. As a result, they are referred to as smooth muscles (nonstriated muscle). Involuntary muscles are those whose activities are not under the voluntary control of the nervous system, and as a result are referred to as such.
Cardiac muscles
Cardiac muscles are the muscles that surround and support the heart. A cardiac muscle is formed when a large number of cardiac muscle cells assemble in a branching pattern. Cardiac muscles are distinguished by their appearance as striated. Due to the fact that their activities are not controlled directly by the nervous system in nature, they are considered involuntary.
Conclusion
Movement is a fundamental characteristic of all living organisms. Protoplasmic streaming, ciliary movements, fin, limb, and wing movements, among other things, are some of the forms of movement exhibited by animals. Locomotion is defined as an animal’s voluntary movement that causes it to move from one location to another. Moving animals are typically motivated by a desire for food, shelter, a partner, a breeding ground, a better climate, or to protect themselves. Amoeboid, ciliary, and muscular movements are demonstrated by the cells of the human body. Coordination of muscular activities is required for locomotion and many other movements. There are three different types of muscles in our body. Skeletal muscles are skeletal elements that are attached to other skeletal elements. They have a striated appearance and are completely voluntary in nature. Visceral muscles, which are found in the inner walls of visceral organs and are nonstriated and involuntary, are present in the body. Cardiac muscles are the muscles that surround and support the heart. They have striated and branched patterns, and they are involuntary.