The Skeletal System
The skeletal system helps us move and protects our organs. It is composed of cartilage and bones that connect to and support the body. The skeleton contains 206 bones that are attached to the body by ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Bones work in conjunction with other parts of the body to keep us healthy. For example, bones store minerals and produce blood cells.
Calcium’s Many Jobs
Calcium is necessary for many functions. For example, muscles need calcium (and magnesium) to perform the operation of contraction as well as releasing the contraction; nerve cells require calcium to perform the job of conduction; and bones need calcium to remain strong. Calcium is supplied to all the tissues of the body through the blood. The body constantly recycles the supply of calcium throughout the organs.
The Muscular System
The framework of the skeleton is moved by the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Your body is 50 percent muscle! Muscles make the body warm, keep the body stable, and see to it that your internal organs operate. There are more than 600 skeletal muscles in the body, all of which can benefit from massage, either directly or indirectly.
What Is a Voluntary Movement?
Voluntary movements are those that you make happen by thinking. To walk, skip, run, or jump, your muscles are at your command. You can catch and throw a ball, type on a computer, turn pages of a book, drive a car, and dance all night because your skeletal muscles move voluntarily. Chewing food, smiling, talking, singing, or frowning are other examples of voluntary movements.
