MUSCULAR SYSTEM

What can our muscles do? Muscles are capable of moving the bones and organs they are

attached to within the body. Since our muscles are like elastic, they can stretch to allow a wide

range of motion. Muscles can also function by pumping the blood throughout the

body. They help provide the strength for stability in our posture by

allowing our bones to align properly. In fact, our muscles contract to produce heat within the body.

Without this process people would be susceptible to hypothermia.

Types of Muscles Cardiac: muscles are involuntarily

used and found only in the heart. (create wall of the heart)

Smooth: like the cardiac muscles, also involuntary, they also make up the internal organs (make up the lining and passageways of organs)

Skeletal: the only voluntary muscles used in the body. These muscles make up what we call the muscular system

Skeletal Muscles

Flexor: Muscles that closes the joints. An example would be the Bicep muscle

Extensor: is the muscle that closes the joint. The triceps, for example, is used for lifting as well as extending the wrist and hand.

Keep in mind: when one muscle contracts, another is relaxing to perform movement

Taking care of the Muscles If not used for long periods of time, muscles will decrease in size

and strength In fact, one way to take care of muscles is Aerobic respiration. It

helps by producing high levels of energy and sustaining the form of energy production.

Stress can also make muscles very weak so its proper to get the right amount of sleep and combining that with proper exercise.

Eating is an important part of keeping muscles healthy as well. Therefore, in order to keep muscles healthy, we should eat foods that are low in fat, low in cholesterol, and high in fiber.

Anaerobic exercises increase the size and strength of muscles. An example such as weight lifting, is also a good way to keep muscles healthy. By requiring big bursts of energy, we are able to use stored nutrients more efficiently.

Be Cautious!! Overexertion of the muscles usually leads to possible

injury. Some of those injury we know are Bruises, Sprains, Tendinitis, and a hernia

Bruises- these injuries mostly appear by blood vessels beneath the skin rupturing causing blood to leak

Sprains- If muscles are over-stretched, you can cause them to tear

Tendinitis- this injury occurs by inflammation of a tendon when over used or by natural aging.

Hernia- Hernia’s are organs or tissue that protrude through an area of weak muscle.

Tendinitis and a Hernia

Major skeletal muscles Pectoralis major- located at the front of rib cage. This muscle allows

the humerus to move in a variety of ways across the chest. Anterior Deltoid- contributes to most movements of the Pectoralis. It

moves the deltoid away to the front Lateral Deltoid- controls head movement.. Function is to move up and

down and side to side Posterior Deltoid- activated using back exercises. Function of Posterior

is to move the head away to the rear. Triceps- Muscles connecting the Humerus and the Scapula. Primary

function for the Triceps is to extend the arm. Biceps- attached to bone called “Radius”. primary function is to

move the forearm towards the elbow. Secondary function is to move the hand from the hands up position to the hands downs position. (makes up at least 1/3 of muscle mass on forearm.)

Major skeletal muscles cont.

Latissimus (Lats) Dorsi- The larger muscles on the back. Lats are attached to the upper end of the humerus with fibers running down in a fan down the vertebral column and pelvic girdle. The function of the Latissimus Dorsi is to bring the arm down to the pelvis.

Abdominal Muscles- The Abdominal muscles sit on the front and sides of the lower half of the torso, originating along the rib cage and attaching along the pelvis. The Abdominals consist of the Rectus and Transverse abdominus, and the Internal and External Obliques.

Gluteus Maximus- One of the largest muscles in the body. Main function of this muscle is to move your thigh to the rear.

Fill In the blanks!! =D Injuries where the blood vessel beneath the skin rupture and

leak are called _______. Muscles contract to produce ______ within the body. ___________________ make up the muscular system. Your ____________ allow your humerus to move across the

chest. ___________ connect the humerus and the scapula.

Muscle that attached to the bone called “Radius” is called the ____.

If you over-stretch your muscles, you can cause a ________. A(n) _______ occurs when the organ or tissue protrude weak

muscle. The __________________ contributes to movements in the

pectoralis. Skeletal Muscles are made up of hundreds of long cells known

as _____________________.