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Learn About The Muscular System

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Muscles can only pull. They never push.

Muscles are bundles of cells and fibers. Muscles work in a very simple way. All they do is tighten up--that is, contract--and relax. You have two sets of muscles attached to many of your bones which allow them to move. There are 630 active muscles in your body and they act in groups. Muscles can only pull. They never push.

Muscles make up the bulk of the body and account for about one-third of its weight.

MOVE

There is one basic function of the musculatory system: MOVEMENT!

But, there are 2 types of movement: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary movement is moving by choice. For example, talking, running, cartwheeling, dancing, skiing, typing, opening and closing your eyes by choice, and many more things.

Involuntary movement is moving without thinking. For example, breathing, heart beating, reflexes, blinking (have to not want to), and many more things.

Muscles: Our Muscular System

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What Are Muscles Made of?
Muscles are all made of the same material, a type of elastic tissue (sort of like the material in a rubber band). Thousands, or even tens of thousands, of small fibers make up each muscle. You have three different types of muscles in your body: smooth muscle, cardiac (say: kar-dee-ak) muscle, and skeletal (say: skeh-luh-tul) muscle.