Musculoskeletal System - Part One

What is the muscular system?

Your body has more than 650 muscles. This is almost half of your weight! The muscular system works with the skeletal system to help you move. Unlike other tissues in your body, your muscles are able to contract and relax.

The muscles that bend your joints work in pairs. When one of these muscles contracts, its partner relaxes. Then, they switch.

Contract

vs Relax

There are three different types of muscles in your body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal

muscles connect to bones and help you move. You are able to control these muscles. Smooth muscles are muscles you can’t control. When you swallow food, smooth muscles move

food towards your stomach. It also carries blood around your

body. Cardiac muscle works all of the time and helps your heart

beat.