Muscular System Facts & Worksheets

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The muscular system is an organ system that includes skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles. The blood is circulated throughout the body, allowing for mobility and maintaining posture. Movement is governed by muscles, which are joined to bones, internal organs, and blood vessels. Muscle contraction is responsible for almost all body movements.

See the fact file below for more information on the Muscular System or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Muscular System worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Definition

• A group of tissues in the human body having the capacity to change shape is known as the muscular system. Muscle cells eventually form connections with skeletal system components. Muscle contraction produces force as the muscles pull on the skeleton.

Amazing Facts About Muscles

• The body weighs about half of its total mass in muscles. 
• The human body contains 650 different types of muscles. 
• How often you use your muscles impacts their size, which explains why speed skaters have potent legs. 
• The length of a single stretched muscle cell can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm). 
• The number and diameter of muscle fibers start to decline around the age of 40, and by the age of 80, our body may lose up to 50% of the muscle mass. To reduce this loss, exercise and a healthy diet are helpful.

Types of Muscle Systems

• Muscle is a broad term for any contractile tissue derived from the Latin word mus, which means mouse. In response to a nerve impulse, the muscle can shorten and thicken due to its contractile characteristic. Once that impulse is blocked, the muscles will relax to their initial length. The movement is produced by this alternating pattern of contraction and relaxation.
• There are three types of muscles in the body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
  • Skeletal muscles are voluntary, which means they are controlled consciously. They get their name because they are connected to the skeleton. Skeletal muscles are striated (striped) muscles because the fibers have a banded appearance. These muscles enable us to make outward motions like sprinting, lifting, or scratching.
    • Skeletal Muscle Movement 
    • The body needs to move in various ways to carry out multiple jobs, and the coordination of the contraction and relaxation of several muscles allows this movement.
    • Agonists, prime movers, are muscles working alone or in groups to move.
  • All of the body’s organs—aside from the heart—have visceral muscle, also known as smooth muscle. Examples include the stomach and other digestive organs, the uterus, blood arteries, and bronchial airways. A significant portion of the body’s internal processes depends on the smooth muscle’s capacity to contract and relax. Vasodilation causes the smooth muscles in the vessel to relax, causing it to expand, which lowers blood pressure. The blood pressure drops because the larger channel offers less flow resistance. The smooth muscle contraction that narrows the blood artery during vasoconstriction, on the other hand, can raise blood pressure.
    • Sphincters are unique structures of smooth muscle found throughout your digestive tract. By alternately contracting and relaxing, these doughnut-shaped muscles serve as doors that open and close to let materials in and out. For instance, the stomach’s two sphincters function as doors; one allows food to enter the esophagus, and the other allows food to enter the small intestine. Have you ever consumed a lot of bread or filling and had stomach discomfort? It serves as a stinging reminder that a sphincter needs to loosen up and open for food to enter your stomach.
  • The cardiac muscle is the third type of muscle, which is striated. It is responsible for the contraction of the heart’s walls. Blood circulates inside the body as a result of these contractions. Fortunately, the cardiac muscle is uncontrollable, implying we don’t have to deliberately think about contracting our hearts every time we need one.

Functions of the Muscular System

• An individual can move, speak, and chew thanks to their muscles. They manage digestion, respiration, and heartbeat. Other seemingly unrelated activities, like temperature regulation and eyesight, also rely on the muscular system. Here are the main functions of the muscular system:
  • Mobility. The primary purpose of the muscular system is to facilitate movement, and muscle contractions enable both coarse and delicate movement.
    • Gross movement encompasses big, coordinated motions such as walking, running, and swimming. 
    • Smaller movements like writing, speaking, and facial expressions are examples of fine movements. Usually, this kind of activity is carried out by the smaller skeletal muscles. 
    • The vast majority of bodily muscle movement is conscious. However, some actions — like pulling a hand away from a heat source — are reflexive.
  • Stability. Stretching over joints and muscle tendons aids in maintaining joint stability, and tendons in the knee and shoulder joints play an essential role in stability. The abdominal, back and pelvic muscles stabilize the body and help lift weights, making up the core muscles.
  • Posture. Muscular muscles help maintain the body’s proper alignment when a person is sitting or standing. It is referred to as posture. Strong, flexible muscles are necessary for good posture. Muscle stiffness, weakness, or tightness can contribute to poor posture and body misalignment. Lousy posture over time causes joint and muscle pain in the shoulders, back, neck, and other places.
  • Circulation. Blood is pumped throughout the body by the heart, a muscle. The heart beats without thought and naturally contracts in response to electrical signals. The smooth muscle aids blood flow throughout the body through arteries and veins. These muscles keep blood pressure and circulation stable when there is blood loss or dehydration. During intensive periods of activity, when the body needs more oxygen, they expand to boost blood flow.
  • Respiration. The diaphragm muscle is used in breathing. A dome-shaped muscle beneath the lungs is called the diaphragm. The diaphragm pushes downward during contraction, expanding the chest cavity, then air enters the lungs, and the diaphragm muscle contracts, expelling air from the lungs. Other muscles, such as those in the abdomen, back, and neck, are needed to assist in deeper breathing.
  • Digestion. The gastrointestinal tract’s smooth muscles regulate digestion. The digestive system transports food in a wave-like action known as peristalsis. Muscles in the hollow organs’ walls contract and relax to produce this action, which pushes food past the esophagus and into the stomach. As food enters the stomach, the upper muscles relax, and the lower muscles combine food with stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Peristalsis is the movement of the partially digested food from the stomach to the intestines. To expel the food from the body as feces, more muscles contract after this.
  • Urination. The bladder, kidneys, penis or vagina, prostate, ureters, and urethra, are only a few of the body’s skeletal and smooth muscles that make up the urinary system. The muscles and nerves must cooperate to hold and release pee from the bladder. Urinary issues, such as poor bladder control or pee retention, are caused by a nerve injury that sends muscle signals.
  • Childbirth. During labor and delivery, the uterus’ smooth muscles stretch and tighten, and the baby is forced through the vagina by these movements. Additionally, the pelvic floor muscles assist in directing the baby’s head toward the birth canal.
  • Vision. Six skeletal muscles surround the eye and control its motions. The eye can maintain a stable vision, monitor the surrounding region, and track moving objects thanks to these muscles’ rapid and accurate movement. An individual’s eyesight may be compromised if their eye muscles are damaged.
  • Organ Protection. Muscles shield internal organs in the body’s front, sides, and back in the torso. Additional defense comes from the ribs and the spine’s bones. Muscles safeguard bones and internal organs by absorbing shock and decreasing joint friction.
  • Temperature Regulation. Maintaining appropriate body temperature is an essential function of the muscular system. Muscle contractions are responsible for over 85% of the heat that an individual produces within their body. When the body’s temperature falls below ideal levels, the skeletal muscles increase their activity to generate heat. One instance of such a system is the ability to shiver. Muscles in blood vessels contract as well to keep the body warm. Allowing the smooth muscle in the blood vessels to relax can return body temperature to its usual range. This action improves blood flow and allows heat to escape through the skin.

Common Disorders

• Myalgia refers to muscle ache or soreness. 
• Although fibromyalgia may be one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions affecting women under 40, little knows about it. Some symptoms are aches, pains, stiffness, and pain points in particular anatomical areas of the body. Although the precise origin is uncertain, research indicates possible involvement of the nervous system’s susceptibility to pain.
• A disease known as ataxia causes the muscles to move erratically or without coordination. 
• The inability of voluntary muscles to move in any way, either partially or entirely, is referred to as paralysis. It could be transient in some cases and permanent in others. 
• A spasm, often known as a cramp, is an involuntary, abrupt, and forceful muscle contraction that lasts for a lengthy time. 
• Strains are injuries to the muscles and tendons, while sprains are injuries to the ligaments, often resulting in breakage. 
• Medial tibial stress syndrome, sometimes known as shin splints, is a common inflammation of the connective muscles surrounding the tibia caused by running.
• When an organ or structure protrudes through the wall that usually surrounds it, it is called a hernia. 
• Tendons may be harmed as a result of the inflammation that causes tendonitis. 
• Muscular dystrophy is an inherited muscular illness characterized by the degeneration of muscle fibers and gradual muscular weakening. 

Tip for Keeping Your Muscles Healthy

• Keep your muscles healthy if you work out often to prevent muscle tears and strains. Maintaining a healthy body will help you perform better and enable you to build more muscle strength. 
• Warm-up and cool-down periods: It’s essential to warm up for 10 to 20 minutes before starting any physical activity. Warm up the muscles you’ll be working during your workout with particular attention. A quick stroll, a modest jog, or mild weight training can help your muscles prepare for more strenuous exercises like a lengthy run, sprints, or heavy weight lifting. Take another 10 to 20 minutes to cool down after working out. Similar to the warm-up process, the cool-down phase moves more slowly. To help your muscles recuperate fully, engage in less strenuous activity.
• Stretch: Stretching your primary muscle groups for 10 to 15 minutes will significantly reduce muscle tears. Holding each stretch for 20 seconds will make the muscles more flexible and less likely to injure themselves. Your muscles can move through their range of motion with the aid of stretching. Stretching should be done after a warm-up and before strenuous activity, and your muscles will be warmed up and more flexible as a result.
• Diet: The condition of your muscles is significantly influenced by what you consume. Your nutrition supports healthy muscular function, muscle growth, and self-repair. For strong muscles, consuming enough protein, carbs, good fats, vitamins, and minerals is critical. For muscle health, including the following items in your diet:
  • Muscles are primarily composed of proteins, and protein should include protein in your diet to replace what is lost during workouts. Meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy products are protein sources. 
  • Carbohydrates give you the energy to engage in physical activity and encourage the production of insulin, which helps your muscles regenerate tissue. You should consume entire grains, fruits, and vegetables as carbs. 
  • Unsaturated fats aid in the rehabilitation of muscles. These fats contain walnuts, flaxseed, fish oils, peanut oil, and olive oil. 
• Hydrate: Being hydrated is crucial for general health, including blood flow, kidney function, and digestive processes. Water is essential for the well-being of muscles and supplies crucial electrolytes required for muscular function and strength, and it is also necessary for developing muscle. The recommended daily water intake for the average individual is two liters, half a gallon, or eight 8-ounce glasses. Exercise causes you to lose a lot of water, so you should up your daily intake by a few glasses when you’re highly active.
• Exercise: Although it may seem simple, exercise is crucial for preserving the health of your muscles. The muscles of those who exercise are stronger than those of others in their age group. Any activity that forces the body to defy gravity can aid muscular growth. If you don’t exercise, your muscles will deteriorate over time. Exercises that require weight, such as running, jogging, jumping rope, and dancing, should be done. The recommended daily amount of exercise for adults is 30 minutes.

Muscular System Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Muscular System across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Muscular System worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the muscular system which is the system of the human body that provides motor power for all movements of body parts. The muscular system is composed of special tissue called muscular tissue. Muscles have the ability to contract actively to provide the force for movement.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Muscular System Facts
• Locating
• Unscramble Muscle
• Workout
• Muscle Protection
• Who Will Treat Me?
• Muscle Match
• Choose Wisely
• Muscle Game
• Modified True or False
• Get to Know Me

Frequently Ask Questions

What are the three main muscle systems?

There are three types of muscles in the body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.

What is the primary function of the muscular system?

The primary purpose of the muscular system is to facilitate movement. 

What diseases affect the muscular system?

Common diseases that affect the muscular system are Myalgia, fibromyalgia, ataxia, paralysis, strains, spasm or cramps, Medial tibial stress syndrome or shin splints, hernia, tendonitis, and muscular dystrophy.

How many muscles are in the body?

The human body contains 650 different types of muscles. 

What causes muscle problems?

Injury or overuse includes sprains or strains, cramps, or tendonitis.

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Link will appear as Muscular System Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 7, 2018