The Muscular System Moving your Body So which

The Muscular System: Moving your Body

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Can you sit totally still without moving a muscle? Try it! (for 30 seconds…) Ø Did you do it? Ø Probably not! Ø Did you blink? ü Did you breathe? ü Did you swallow? ü It’s impossible to sit absolutely still without ANY muscle movement… why? ? ?

What is the muscular system? Ø They muscular system is made up of all the MUSCLES and TENDONS in your body. There are more than 600 muscles in your body! Ø MUSCLES are: ORGANS that can RELAX and CONTRACT, and provide the FORCE to MOVE your body parts. Ø TENDONS are: STRONG CONNECTIVE TISSUE that ATTACH MUSCLES TO BONE. (This connection allows your muscles to move your bones. )

What are muscles made of? • LONG, STRETCHY, elastic cells and fibers • These muscle cells CONTRACT and RELAX when they get MESSAGES from your NERVES. Nucleus

Why do I need tendons? Ø Tendons ATTACH MUSCLES TO BONE helping the body move. Ø Feel your tendon right above your heel in the back of your leg. This is the THICKEST tendon in your body (Achilles Tendon). Ø TENDON

What does your muscular system do? (What is its FUNCTION? ) • HOLDS BONES together so you can MOVE • HOLDS ORGANS in place • Helps you CHEW & DIGEST your food • BLINKS your eyelids • PUMPS YOUR BLOOD • Allows you to WALK, RUN, play, laugh, smile, etc.

How are MUSCLES controlled? Ø Your BRAIN sends MESSAGES to your muscles using the NERVOUS SYSTEM. VOLUNTARY MUSCLES - you CHOOSE to use them and CONSCIOUSLY CONTROL their movement. Ø Examples: MOST SKELETAL MUSCLES (arms, legs, hands, feet, etc) INVOLUNTARY MUSCLES - WORK WITHOUT YOU THINKING about them. Ø Examples: HEART, EYELIDS, DIAPHRAGM (breathing) and DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

How do muscles work? Muscles CAN’T PUSH. They ONLY PULL (CONTRACT) (and then RELAX to return to original length). Ø Muscles often WORK IN PAIRS, so that they can pull in DIFFERENT OR OPPOSITE directions. • Example: BICEP bends the elbow, and TRICEP extends the elbow. Ø

THREE TYPES OF MUSCLES 1) SKELETAL MUSCLES (attached to bones) 2) SMOOTH MUSCLES (in your digestive system) 3) CARDIAC MUSCLES (in your heart)

What are the 3 types of muscles? 1) SKELETAL MUSCLES – are ATTACHED to your BONES. ØThese are VOLUNTARY muscles, because you control them. ØThey REACT QUICKLY, but get TIRED EASILY.

What are the 3 types of muscles? 2) SMOOTH MUSCLES – are INSIDE your INTERNAL ORGANS (eg. In your digestive system). ØThese are INVOLUNTARY muscles, because the work AUTOMATICALLY. ØThey REACT SLOWLY, but DON’T GET TIRED EASILY.

What are the 3 types of muscles? 3) CARDIAC MUSCLES – are found ONLY in your HEART. ØThese are INVOLUNTARY muscles, because the work AUTOMATICALLY. They DON’T GET TIRED.

How can you STRENGTHEN your muscular system? • EXERCISE EVERYDAY! Exercise makes individual muscle cells grow wider, thicker, and stronger. • EAT foods that are HIGH IN PROTEIN every day – protein helps to build strong muscles.

Fun Facts about the Muscular System • You have about 650 muscles in your body. Muscles make up HALF your body weight. • Eye muscles are the busiest muscles in the body. Scientists estimate they may move more than 100, 000 times a day! • The largest muscle in the body is the gluteus maximus muscle in the buttocks. • Smiling is easier than frowning. It takes 20 muscles to smile and over 40 to frown.

Have you noticed that certain systems work together? Muscular system helps the skeletal system MOVE. Muscular system helps the Circulatory system PUMP BLOOD around the Muscular system helps body. Nervous. Digestive system sends system DIGEST MESSAGES the move it FOODtoand muscular system. your body. through