OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaYour body has over 600 muscles, and they help you move in all kinds of ways! Muscles are attached to your bones, and when a muscle tightens up, it pulls on the bone to make it move. That is how you can wave, jump, kick a ball, and even smile!
Some muscles you control on purpose, like the ones in your arms and legs. But other muscles work on their own without you thinking about it. Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood all day long, and the muscles in your stomach help digest your food!
To keep your muscles strong, it helps to be active — running, climbing, swimming, and playing all give your muscles a good workout. Eating protein-rich foods like eggs, beans, and chicken helps your muscles grow. The stronger your muscles are, the more you can do!
- It takes about 17 muscles in your face just to make a smile!
- The strongest muscle in your body is your jaw muscle, which helps you chew food.
- Your muscles make up about 40 percent of your total body weight!
