krit.club logo

The Human Body - The Muscular System

Grade 3ICSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

The human body has more than 600600 muscles that help in movement, maintain posture, and circulate blood.

Muscles are attached to the bones by strong, thread-like structures called tendons.

Muscles work by contracting (becoming shorter and tighter) and relaxing (returning to their original size).

Muscles always work in pairs; when one muscle contracts, the other relaxes to produce movement.

Voluntary Muscles: These are muscles we can control at our will, such as those in our arms and legs (e.g.,e.g., lifting a bag).

Involuntary Muscles: These work automatically without our conscious control, such as the muscles in the heart and stomach.

The heart is made of a special type of involuntary muscle called the cardiac muscle.

To keep our muscular system healthy, we need regular exercise and a diet rich in proteins (e.g.,e.g., milk, eggs, pulses).

📐Formulae

Total Muscles600Total\ Muscles \approx 600

Movement=Contraction+RelaxationMovement = Contraction + Relaxation

Musculoskeletal System=Muscular System+Skeletal SystemMusculoskeletal\ System = Muscular\ System + Skeletal\ System

💡Examples

Problem 1:

If you want to bend your arm at the elbow to touch your shoulder, what happens to the biceps muscle?

Solution:

The biceps muscle contracts.

Explanation:

To pull the lower arm bone upward, the biceps muscle on the front of the upper arm must shorten or contract, while the triceps muscle at the back relaxes.

Problem 2:

Classify the following as Voluntary or Involuntary: (a) Heart beating (b) Kicking a football.

Solution:

(a) Involuntary, (b) Voluntary

Explanation:

The heart beats on its own without us thinking about it (Involuntary), whereas kicking a ball is an action we choose to perform (Voluntary).

Problem 3:

Why do muscles work in pairs to move a bone?

Solution:

Muscles can only pull, they cannot push.

Explanation:

Since a muscle can only pull a bone by contracting, another muscle is needed on the opposite side to pull the bone back to its original position.

The Muscular System - Revision Notes & Key Formulas | ICSE Class 3 Science