The Muscular System

You are strong!

• If all your muscles were working
together, you could lift about 20
cars!
r
Your body has about 700
muscles….

Muscles make up
about 40% of your
body weight.
 Muscles weigh more than fat

Who will sink and

who will float?
Muscle fiber under a
microscope.
Voluntary and involuntary muscles

The heart has involuntary Muscles in our arms and

muscle because we cannot legs are voluntary and are
control it. skeletal muscles.
 Nerve cells called motor neurons
control muscles from signals from the
brain.
Massage
Massage is good
for your muscles
and body, and can
make you feel
relaxed and
happy.
Massage your pectoralis minor

If you type a lot on a

computer, or ride a
motorcycle a lot, this
muscle can get very
tight.
 Tendons

Tendons connect muscle to bone.

Your muscles need oxygen and glucose (sugar).
 Why do our muscles “burn” when we
exercise a lot?
• Lactic acid in your muscles causes that pain.

“Hitting
the wall”
happens
when you
have no
glycogen.
Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps can have

many causes, such as
dehydration, not enough
blood flowing to the
muscle, or being tired.
Muscles move by contracting and
relaxing
To take one step, you use 200 muscles.
Muscles cannot push, they can only
pull.

When you push

something, it’s because
another muscle is
pulling.
The largest muscle in your body is your
gluteus maximus. Your butt!
When you’re cold, your muscles
contract involuntarily.

He is shivering.
 You can make your muscles grow!

When you lift weights,

you tear your
muscles. When they
heal, they grow back
stronger and bigger.

It takes a long time to grow

muscles.
But they can shrink too. This is muscle
atrophy.

This woman broke her

leg, so she could not
use her right leg for a
long time.

Her right leg got

smaller.
Your muscles need protein
Muscles usually work together with
other muscles, not alone.
Muscular Dystrophy

A genetic disease
that causes muscles
to deteriorate.

Exercise and therapy

can help.
 Questions
• What nutrient do we need to build muscle?
• What is an example of an involuntary muscle?
• What connects muscle to bone?
• About how many muscles do you have in your body?
• What kind of energy does your muscles need?
• What do your muscles do when you are really cold?
• What kind of exercise can make our muscles grow?
• What is the largest muscle in your body?
• What happens if you don’t use your muscles?