Describing How Muscles Work

Part 1.

Draw a picture of the upper and lower arm, including the bones and muscles. Label your
picture using some of the words in the word bank.

Next, explain how the biceps and triceps work, using the word bank to help you.

Challenge: Can you try to use all the words from the word bank?


Word Bank
contracts relaxes biceps triceps raise
gets shorter pairs bone lift lower
straighten gets longer pulls muscles

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 Describing How Muscles Work
Part 2.

Complete this table about types of muscles using the missing words and phrases from the
word bank below. Some words are repeated more than once - you can cross them out in word
bank as you use them.

Voluntary /
Type of muscle Example of muscle A job of the muscle
involuntary

smooth

helps to digest food

heart

voluntary

raises leg to help

kick a ball

Word Bank
cardiac helps us to breathe arm muscle involuntary intestine
to raise hand in the air skeletal diaphragm skeletal
involuntary pumps blood around our bodies leg muscle
smooth involuntary voluntary

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 Describing How Muscles Work Answers
Part 1.
bones
contract

bicep

relax

contract

tricep
relax

The muscles in your arms work in pairs. As you lift your arm, the biceps on the top of your
upper arm bone (humerus) contract, while the triceps relax. Your biceps get shorter but your
triceps get longer. When you lower your arm and straighten it out, the opposite happens.

Part 2.

Voluntary /
Type of muscle Example of muscle A job of the muscle
involuntary

smooth involuntary diaphragm helps us breath

smooth involuntary intestine helps to digest food

pumps blood around

cardiac involuntary heart
our bodies

skeletal voluntary arm muscle to raise hand in air

raises leg to help

skeletal voluntary leg muscle
kick a ball

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