Key learning points

1. The human body contains muscles.
2. Muscles are a type of tissue made up of specialised cells.
3. Muscles can contract and relax.
4. Muscles need sugar and oxygen to contract.
5. Different types of muscle have roles in organ systems, including cardiac muscle, smooth muscle and skeletal muscle.

Keywords

• Muscle - A living tissue made up of muscle cells.

• Contraction - The shortening of muscles, which requires energy.

• Cardiac muscle - Found in the heart and moves involuntarily.

• Smooth muscle - Found in organs such as the stomach and intestines and moves involuntarily.

• Skeletal muscle - Joined to bones, and moves voluntarily to make bones move.

Common misconception