THE
MUSCULAR
SYSTEM
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE
WHAT IS THE MUSCULAR
SYSTEM?
T he muscular system is one of the most
important systems in your body. It is
made up of over 600 muscles that help
you move, breathe, pump blood, and
even digest food. These muscles work
with your bones to allow movement and
support. Without the muscular system,
simple actions like walking, talking, or
even blinking would be impossible!
THE THREE TYPES OF
MUSCLES
Skel etal muscle: Voluntary, striated fibers
attached to bones; responsible for
locomotion and posture.
Cardiac muscle: Involuntary, striated cells
found in the heart; contracts rhythmically
to pump blood.
Smooth muscle: Involuntary, non-striated
fibers in walls of organs and vessels;
controls processes like digestion and blood
flow
SKELETAL MUSCLES
Skel etal muscles are the muscles you
can see and feel. These are the ones
that flex when you lift something heavy
or run in PE. They are voluntary muscles,
which means you control them. Skeletal
muscles work in pairs when one
contracts, the other relaxes to help
your body move smoothly.
SMOOTH MUSCLES
Smooth m uscles are found in places like
your stomach, intestines, and blood
vessels. These muscles are involuntary,
meaning you don’t have to think about
using them. They work automatically to
move food through your digestive
system and help control blood pressure
by tightening or relaxing blood vessels.
CARDIAC MUSCLE
Cardiac muscle is a special type of
muscle found only in your heart. It is
also involuntary, and it never gets tired.
This muscle contracts and relaxes
continuously, pumping blood throughout
your body 24/7. Without the cardiac
muscle, your heart wouldn’t be able to
beat!
HOW MUSCLES WORK
M uscles work by contracting and
relaxing. When a muscle contracts, it
shortens and pulls on the bone it’s
attached to, creating movement.
Muscles work in pairs while one muscle
contracts, the opposite one relaxes.
Signals from your nervous system tell
your muscles when to move and how
much force to use.
MUSCLES AND BONES
M uscles are connected to bones by
tendons. When your brain sends a
message to a muscle, it contracts and
pulls on the bone, causing movement.
This team effort between muscles and
bones is what allows you to run, jump,
smile, and write. Without bones, your
muscles would have nothing to pull on!
KEEPING MUSCLES
HEALTHY
To keep your muscles strong and
healthy, it’s important to exercise
regularly, eat a balanced diet, and
stay hydrated. Activities like walking,
playing sports, or dancing strengthen
skeletal muscles. Eating foods with
protein, like eggs and beans, helps
muscles grow and repair after use.
FUN FACTS ABOUT
MUSCLES
He re are some cool facts:
Your tongue is one of the strongest
muscles in your body. The smallest
muscle, the stapedius, is found in your
ear. Your body’s largest muscle is the
gluteus maximus, in your buttocks. And
when you smile, you use around 17
muscles so keep smiling!
