Muscles and their Functions in the Human Body
Muscles, bones, and joints work together to move our body. If you don't remember the different joints, you may want to go back to Lesson 1 and review. There are about 600 muscles in your body!! Put your hand on your calf muscle (Back, bottom part of leg--See diagram). Now point your toes upward and downward. Do you feel your muscles? Did you notice that when you move your toes upward, the muscles got harder? This means that they are working. Muscles have to work to make bones move. The muscle in your calf is called a tendon. Tendons are stretchy and rope-like, and attach muscles to bones. The muscles that connect bones to joints are called ligaments.
Where do you think you have the largest number of muscles in the body?
Your face!! You are using/moving muscles when you smile, frown, yawn, etc. There are two main types of muscles, voluntary and involuntary. The muscles that you can control movement of can also be referred to as voluntary muscles. Some more examples of voluntary muscles are your legs and your arm (since you can control them). Another type of muscles is called involuntary muscles. These muscles cannot be controlled; they work when you don't even realize it! An example of this type of muscle is the heart. Also, there are muscles in your skin that cause you to have goosebumps (which you cannot control), and even muscles in the digestive system that help squeeze food through your stomach. All of these examples are of involuntary muscles which you cannot control the movement of.
Where do you think you have the largest number of muscles in the body?
Your face!! You are using/moving muscles when you smile, frown, yawn, etc. There are two main types of muscles, voluntary and involuntary. The muscles that you can control movement of can also be referred to as voluntary muscles. Some more examples of voluntary muscles are your legs and your arm (since you can control them). Another type of muscles is called involuntary muscles. These muscles cannot be controlled; they work when you don't even realize it! An example of this type of muscle is the heart. Also, there are muscles in your skin that cause you to have goosebumps (which you cannot control), and even muscles in the digestive system that help squeeze food through your stomach. All of these examples are of involuntary muscles which you cannot control the movement of.
Source: http://www.cstone.net/~bcp/3/3NSci.htm
Image: http://blog.brianschiff.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/calf-diagram1-300x195.jpg
Image: http://blog.brianschiff.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/calf-diagram1-300x195.jpg
Video about Muscles
Please watch the video below that discusses muscles and their functions.
Discussion thread about Muscles!
**For this discussion thread, you can answer questions such as: What are the two main types of muscles and what are some examples of each, what is the function of a muscle, etc. You may also respond to the activity where you felt your own muscle, and the video that you viewed.
Extra Resources:
Learn more about muscles at this website: http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/bones_muscles_joints.html