Muscles are an integral part of our bodies.
Muscles allow movement. What else can they do?
Think about how your muscles help you
In this activity, the virtual astronaut will identify specific muscles and their functions.
Can you believe the body consists of hundreds of muscles?
Let's look at some of them to learn more.
The masseter runs from the temporal bone to the mandible, or lower jaw. It elevates the lower jaw, which closes the mouth.
Did you know the masseter is the strongest muscle in your body?
The temporalis begins on two bones of the skull, the frontal and the temporal.
It runs to the top of the mandible, or lower jaw.
Like the masseter, the temporalis also helps close the mouth.
The biceps brachii runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It is attached to the scapula, or shoulder blade, and extends along the front surface of the humerus, or upper arm bone.
Notice that humerus sounds like humor. You may know this area of the elbow as the funny bone.
When the bicep contracts, the arm bends at the elbow.
Located beneath the biceps brachii, the brachialis connects the shaft of the humerus, or upper arm bone, to the ulna, or longest forearm bone.
This muscle is the strongest flexor of the elbow and is also known as the lower bicep.
The deltoids are the triangular muscles of the shoulder.
The strongest point is the central section, which raises the arm sideways. The front and back parts of the muscle twist the arm.
Deltoid comes from the Greek word deltoeides, meaning shaped like a (river) delta, which is triangular.
The pectoralis major is a large, fan-shaped muscle. It covers much of the front upper chest, beginning at the breastbone, or sternum, encompassing the second through sixth ribs.
From there, the pectoralis major attaches to the collarbone, or clavicle, and converges on the upper arm bone, or humerus, just below the shoulder.
The muscle moves the arm across the body.
The adductor longus is located on the inner thigh.
Adduct means move, so this muscle allows the thigh bone, or femur, to move inward and to the side.
Located in the lower leg, the soleus runs from the tibia and fibula, or lower leg bones, to the calcaneus, or heel.
The soleus muscle flexes the foot. It also helps circulation by pumping blood back up towards the head.
The Soleus moves the foot at the ankle.