Muscles within the body

• How many muscles are there in the human body?

  Approximately 600
• What are the varied roles of muscles in the human body?

  • Movement of bones
  • Cardiac muscles cause heartbeats
  • Smooth muscles aid digestion
• What role do cardiac muscles play in the human body?

  They cause the heart to beat
• What is the function of smooth muscles in the human body?

  They help with digestion
• What type of muscles are responsible for the movement of bones?

  Skeleton muscles
• Latissimus dorsi

  • Positioned in the back and is connected to the humerus bone in the arm
  • It helps to move the shoulder and the upper arm
  • Important in the sport of climbing, for example
• Deltoid

  • Positioned over the top of the shoulder and helps to raise the arms
• Rotator Cuffs

  • Group of muscles that connect to the upper arm at the shoulder
  • They help to rotate and extend the shoulder, for example during bowling in cricket or baseball
• Pectorals

  • Group of muscles in the front of the chest that connect to the shoulder
  • Assist with the movement of the shoulder and the arm bones, for example throwing a ball underhand
• Biceps

  • Large muscle in the front of the upper arm
  • Connects to the lower arm and helps to raise the lower arm causing flexion at the elbow
  • This is important during the action of lifting
• Triceps

  • Large muscle in the back of the upper arm
  • Connects to the lower arm and helps to straighten the arm causing extension at the elbow
• Abdominals

  • Group of muscles located in the lower front of the body between the ribs and the pelvis bones
  • Help to stabilise the core of the body and support the internal organs in that area
  • Assist with movements such as twisting at the waist, sitting up and bending to the side
• Hip Flexors

  • Group of muscles that connect around the pelvic bone
  • Help to raise/lower and rotate the femur of the upper leg
  • Important for running, as well as kicking sports such as taekwondo and football
• Gluteals

  • The muscles of the buttocks
  • Positioned around the outside of the back of the pelvis bones
  • Help with the movement of the upper leg and knee joint
  • They are very important in the sports of cycling and rowing, among others
• Hamstring group

  • Group of three muscles in the back of the thigh in the upper leg
  • They enable flexion of the leg at the knee 
• Quadriceps group

  • Group of muscles in the front of the thigh in the upper leg
  • They straighten the leg causing extension at the knee
  • It is important for moving the leg forward, for example during football
• Gastrocnemius

  • The muscle found in the calf at the back of the lower leg
  • It flexes the knee and foot
  • Essential for the activities of running and jumping
• Tibialis anterior

  • Muscle found in the shin at the front of the lower leg
  • Helps to draw the foot up at the ankle during walking or running
• Tendons

  Connect muscle to bones