The Muscular System
By Stella Deeks
Introduction
The muscular system is one of the five major systems in the body. It is very important because it helps us to move from one place to another, it helps to do tasks with our bodies, and it helps to pump blood and digest food.
Muscles
This a picture of some arm muscles.
Involuntary Muscles
Involuntary muscles are smooth. We cannot control our involuntary muscles. Some examples are: the digestive system (stomach) and the cardiac system (heart).
Voluntary Muscles
Voluntary muscles are striped and control the skeleton. We can make choices about how these muscles move. They are connected to the bones with tendons. Some examples of voluntary muscles are: the quadriceps and the hamstrings.
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Muscular System
How to Keep Your Muscular System Healthy
There are many ways to keep your muscular system healthy.
- Drink lots of water to keep your muscles hydrated.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruit to supply your muscles with glucose.
- Eat a lot of protein to build strong muscles.
- Exercise often to get more oxygen to the muscles.
- Do exercises that build strong muscles (conditioning).
- It is important to exercise safely so that you don't tear or hurt your muscles.
Fun Muscular System Facts:
- Your eye is the hardest working muscle in your body.
- The biggest muscle in the human body is the gluteus maximus.
- Your tongue is made up muscles.
- Your smallest muscle is in your ear (about the size of a grain of rice).
- Your body is a machine and the bones and muscles are the levers.
- There are approximately 640 skeletal muscles in the human body. It's approximate because the scientists can't agree on the number.
- It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 muscles to frown. Not all scientists agree with this old saying.
My Favourite Exercises to Build Strong Muscles:
push ups, jumping jacks, calf raises, crunches, back sit-ups, planks, side planks, fishies, leg raises.