Muscle of the Month Fun Facts
Physical Education is the ideal environment to start teaching
elementary school children about the human anatomy. It is amazing how so
many different parts are able to work together as one team! Our bones make
the frame of our body, called the skeleton. The bones give the body support,
protect the softer parts of the body, and provide leverage for the fibrous
tissues (called muscles and ligaments) that are attached to them. All our
movements of our body are controlled by the work of our muscles. Muscles
are attached to bones by a tough cord at the end of it called a tendon. There
are over three times as many muscles in the adult body as there are bones;
around 656 muscles to 206 bones. The good news is that we are only going to
focus on nine of those muscles. We are going to teach you their proper names,
where they are located, what they do, some nicknames, and a variety of fun
facts. For example, do you know what a Hip Flexor is?
The Hip Flexors are a group of muscles located in the front of your
pelvis (hip) and the top of your femur (thigh), similar to putting your hands in
the top of your pants pockets. The action of the Hip Flexors is as simple as the
name suggests, it flexes the hip!!! For example, it will allow the hip to flex
(bend) forward to lift your knee up high in the air. Commonly used during
high knee running, performing a lay-up in basketball, running hurdles in track,
a tuck in gymnastics, and bringing your knee to your chest to perform the
piriformis stretch. Additionally, the Hip Flexors can also assist in flexing
(bending) the trunk forwards. But, Gayhead students should never ever forget
that the main action of the Hip Flexors is to………..FLEX THE HIP!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Biceps Brachii is a muscle located in the front part of your upper
arm (the humerus). The prefix of the word Biceps is “Bi”, which means two
or twice. Thus, the biceps brachii is made up of two parts. It has two heads, a
long head and a short head! It performs two actions, to allow the elbow to flex
(bend) and to allow the wrist to supinate (turn the palm of the hand to face
up). It is also known as the “The Popeye Muscle” because the biceps brachii
will pop up and form a hard ball in the upper arm when curled, just like
Popeye the Sailorman when he flexes his muscles. The Biceps Brachii is also
used when opening a door knob or to feed yourself a piece of fruit. Of course
that would be spinach if it was Popeye or Mrs. Biceps Boccini.
The Adductors are a group of muscles located in the upper and inner
thigh (femur), commonly known as the groin area. The muscles work as a
team to allow the legs to adduct or close together. From kindergarten to
second grade the Adductors were referred to as the “Butterfly Stretch” or the
“Groin Stretch”. Since the 3rd grade, Gayhead students know the nickname as
the “Passing Muscle” because it is used to perform an inside of the foot pass
in soccer. It also allows a person to bring their legs across their body when
sitting. When injured it is what athletes call a “Groin Pull”.
The Quadriceps Femoris is the large bulky muscle in the front of the
thigh (femur). It is made up of four parts that join together to cover your
kneecap (patella) and form the Patellar Tendon. When this group of muscles
works together, they powerfully extend or straighten the knee. It is commonly
known as the kicking muscle because it is primarily used when performing a
front kick in karate or to kick a field goal in football. Also, it is used to jump
or to squat down to the floor and then standing back up again. The next time a
friend kicks their legs forward to use the swing on the playground, think
Quadriceps!!
The Upper Trapezius is the muscle that is located along your upper
back and neck. It is one of the 3 parts of the trapezius muscle, which together
forms the shape of trapezoid. It is nicknamed the “I Don’t Know Muscle”
because it allows a person to shrug (raise) their shoulders up to their ears
when someone says, “I don’t know.” Additionally, it allows someone to be
able to flex (bend) their head and neck from side to side to bring their ear to
their shoulder. Lastly, the Upper Trapezius it is the most common place to
have tension and stress induced neck pain.
The Supraspinatus is also known as the “Pitching Muscle”. It is one of
the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff. Located in the back of the
shoulder, it starts along the upper ridge of the scapula (shoulder blade), wraps
around and then under the acromion (tip of the collar bone) to the front of
your upper arm (humerus). This muscle allows the arm to abduct (go apart)
away from the body 15 degrees to lift a book bag and hold it out to the side.
Unlike most muscles that are nicknamed for their action, the Supraspinatus is
called the “Pitching Muscle” because it has a very tricky location. It is the
tricky location that makes it the most commonly injured shoulder muscle in
baseball pitchers. There are many other fun facts. However, Mr. Piggott’s
favorite is to call it ”The Ole Back Scratcher.”
The Gastrocnemius is also known as the “Tip Toe Muscle”. It is located
in the back of your lower leg (tibia), which is the area below your knee
commonly called your calf. This muscle has an extremely important action.
It allows you to plantar flex your foot (or point foot down). For example, it
allows you to flex (bend) your ankle to raise your heels off the ground and
walk on your toes, like a ballerina. It is also allows us to walk fast and jump.
It has other fun facts like it is the largest muscle below your knee, has a
medial head and a lateral head, and that it joins with the Soleus and Plantaris
muscles to form the extremely strong Achilles Tendon. Try to walk on your
tip toes to see and feel your Gastrocnemius in action.
Students need to exercise to become physically fit, and to be physically
fit a person must be physically active for at least 60 minutes per day. Exercise
gives you energy, improves your appetite, increases the size of the heart, helps
you to run faster, and lets you enjoy all types of games. Also, it lifts your
spirits, firms your muscles, improves your posture, and strengthens your
bones and heart. So make sure you go out and exercise every day, your body
is counting on it!