Have students reflect on (and demonstrate) all the ways that they can move their bodies including twists and turns of hands, feet, fingers, and toes. Reflect on the fact that each of these movements is done by contraction of one or more muscles. Muscles cannot push. A movement in the opposite direction requires muscles pulling/contracting on the opposite side of the joint. How many muscles are required for all the movements your perfome? Yes there are many hundreds. Show students images of the muscles of the human body.
Type into your browser: muscles of the human body images
You can get more detail of particular parts by typing into your browser:
muscles of the _____ (type the desired part in the blank)
The basic form of the vertebrate body is given by the skeleton overlain with muscles. Add a layer of greater or lesser amounts of fat, cover it with skin, and that’s the shape and form of the body. (Please post questions and comments.)