Hey There! My name is Muscle Mike. Right now I'm about to take you in the world of the Muscular System. Let's get started!

Mike is an example of the anatomic structure of the muscular system.

Before we begin let me fill you in. 

The muscular system is a network of muscles in the body that helps us move, stay upright, and perform essential functions. It includes three types of muscles: skeletal muscles, which we control to move our arms, legs, and other body parts; cardiac muscle, which keeps the heart beating; and smooth muscles, which work automatically in places like the stomach and blood vessels. Muscles contract or tighten, to move, and they also play roles in breathing, circulating blood, and even keeping our bodies warm. This system is vital for almost everything we do, from walking and eating to pumping blood and breathing.

Smooth

Cardiac

Skeletal

Now that you have an idea of what the muscular system is, let's go into the three different types of muscles in the muscular system. 

The muscular system has three types of muscles, each with a unique role. Skeletal muscles are the ones we control to move our body, like lifting an arm or walking. They’re attached to bones and work quickly but can get tired. Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart, where it pumps blood throughout our body without us thinking about it, and it’s built to work all the time without getting tired. Smooth muscles are in places like the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels. They work automatically to move food through our digestive system and regulate blood flow, all without us needing to control them. 

I can tell that you're getting the hang of this. I think we can go more in-depth and explore each different type of muscle in the muscular system. Let's begin with smooth muscles!

Smooth muscle is a type of muscle found in the walls of internal organs like the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels. Unlike the muscles we use to move, smooth muscles work automatically, without us having to think about it. They help move food through our digestive system, control blood flow by adjusting blood vessel size, and play a role in other essential body functions. Because they work slowly and steadily, smooth muscles can keep going for a long time without getting tired.

Let's dive into the world of cardiac muscle.

Cardiac muscle is a special type of muscle found only in the heart. It works automatically to keep the heart beating, pumping blood throughout the body without us having to think about it. Cardiac muscle is strong and built to work continuously without getting tired, which is essential since the heart needs to beat constantly to keep us alive. Its unique structure allows the cells to contract in a coordinated way, so the heart can pump blood efficiently.   

I hope you're enjoying the adventure. I put my heart into this. Ha ha

Let's dive into my favorite type of muscle! The skeletal muscle!

Skeletal muscle is the type of muscle that helps us move and control our body. It’s attached to bones by tendons and allows us to do things like lift our arms, walk, and jump. Unlike cardiac and smooth muscles, we control skeletal muscles voluntarily, meaning we think about and decide when to move them. They can contract quickly and with a lot of force, but they also get tired faster than other muscle types. Skeletal muscles work with our bones to give us strength, stability, and coordination in all our movements.