MUSCLES CRMA #4

What Are the Muscles and What Do They Do? Bones don't work alone they need help from the muscles and joints. Muscles pull on the joints, allowing us to move. They also help the body perform other functions so we can grow and remain strong, such as chewing food and then moving it through the digestive system. The human body has more than 650 muscles, which make up half of a person's body weight. They are connected to bones by tough, cord-like tissues called tendons, which allow the muscles to pull on bones. If you wiggle your fingers, you can see the tendons on the back of your hand move as they do their work.

Skeletal muscle is attached to bone, mostly in the legs, arms, abdomen, chest, neck, and face. Skeletal muscles are called striated (pronounced: stry-ay-ted) because they are made up of fibers that have horizontal stripes when viewed under a microscope. These muscles hold the skeleton together, give the body shape, and help it with everyday movements (they are known as voluntary muscles because you can control their movement). They can contract (shorten or tighten) quickly and powerfully, but they tire easily and have to rest between workouts. Smooth, or involuntary, muscle is also made of fibers, but this type of muscle looks smooth, not striated. Generally, we can't consciously control our smooth muscles; rather, they're controlled by the nervous system automatically (which is why they are also called involuntary). Examples of smooth muscles are the walls of the stomach and intestines, which help break up food and move it through the digestive system. Smooth muscle is also found in the walls of blood vessels, where it squeezes the stream of blood flowing through the vessels to help maintain blood pressure. Smooth muscles take longer to contract than skeletal muscles do, but they can stay contracted for a long time because they don't tire easily. Cardiac (pronounced: kar-dee-ak) muscle is found in the heart. The walls of the heart's chambers are composed almost entirely of muscle fibers. Cardiac muscle is also an involuntary type of muscle. Its rhythmic, powerful contractions force blood out of the heart as it beats.

TRAPEZIUS Daily uses Shrugging the shoulders Overhead movements or the arm Location: Large muscle in upper and mid-back. Function: Moves head sideways Notes: When you feel "knots in your neck", it's your trapezius. Tip: If there is a bug on your upper back you “trap” it to kill it

DELTOIDS Daily uses Lifting Location: Top of shoulder Function: Overhead lifting Notes:. Anytime you "flap" your arms, your deltoids are working Tips: Think of the DELTA airlines, delta=deltoids, when you put your arms up like a plane you use your deltoids

TRICEPS Daily uses Pushing a door closed Location: Back of upper arm Function: Pushing Notes: Anytime you extend your lower arm, you are using your triceps Tips: “Tri” means 3. Triceps has three muscles and its located in the back where there is usually more fat than the front of your upper arm

PECTORALIS Daily uses Using roll-on deodorant Location: Front of upper chest Function: Push up from lying position, push open a door Notes: The pectoralis muscles pull the shoulder and arm forward. Tips: Think of King Kong POUNDING his PECS.

BICEPS Daily uses Picking up a shopping bag Location: Front of upper arm Function: Lifting, pulling Notes:Anytime you move your hand toward your shoulder, you are using your biceps. Tips: “Bi” means two. Bicep has two muscles located on the front of upper arm

LATISSIMUS DORSI Daily uses Pushing on the arms of a chair when standing up Location: Lats are the large triangular muscle in the mid- back. Rhomboids are between the shoulder blades Function: Postural alignment, pulling open a door Notes: Developed lats give your back a "V" shape, making your waist appear smaller.

ABDOMINAL Daily uses Maintaining good posture Location: Stomach Function: Postural alignment, pulling open a door Notes: The rectus abdominus is the muscle that is visible.

BRUCE LEE  Lee's striking speed from three feet with his hands down by his side reached five hundredths of a second.  Lee could take in one arm a 75 lb barbell from a standing position with the barbell held flush against his chest and slowly stick his arms out locking them, holding the barbell there for several seconds  In a speed demonstration, Lee could snatch a dime off a person’s open palm before they could close it, and leave a penny behind.  Lee performed one-hand push-ups using only the thumb and index finger.  Lee performed 50 reps of one-arm chin-ups.  Lee would hold an elevated v-sit position for 30 minutes or longer