Muscular System

Purpose  Provides motion  Maintains posture

Main Part = 600+ muscles  Two major categories: Voluntary Involuntary

Three Types of Muscles  Smooth: muscles found in organs and in blood vessels and glands.  Skeletal: attached to bone. Called striated because they are made up of fibers that have horizontal strips.  Cardiac: muscles surrounding the heart.

Involuntary Vs. Voluntary Muscles VOLUNTARY  We can control Arms Legs Face All movement INVOLUNTARY  We don’t control Heart Arteries and Veins Digestive Tract Stomach

Tendons  Tough tissue fiber that attaches muscles to bones  Muscles work in pairs: when one is contracting (shortening) the other must relax and lengthen

Problems  Pulled or torn muscle: muscle that has been torn away from the bone.  Strain: any type of soreness that develops in a muscle because of overuse. Caused by tiny tears to the muscle or tendon.  Cramp: a muscle that has remained contracted. Typically feels tight and sore and is a sign to drink more water.

How to keep your Muscular System Healthy 1. Discontinue exercise if you have a muscle injury 2. Warm up and stretch before vigorous exercise 3. Exercise different muscle groups regularly 4. Select foods and beverages containing carbohydrates and proteins for energy and muscle development.

Diet and the Muscular System  Foods high in protein are meat, fish, and poultry, nuts, dried beans, milk products, soybeans and tofu  If a diet lacks “carbs” the body will burn protein (eating the bodies muscle)