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Muscles are found all over our body. They control the movements we make and help us to move our bodies.

If we think about moving some muscles, like our arm muscles, they move. Other muscles, like our heart, move on their own without us thinking about it.

The way that muscles work is quite complicated. Watch this video which shows how muscles, tendons and the skeleton work together.

Muscles often work in pairs, pulling on your bones so that you can move. When a muscle contracts it gets shorter and then relaxes to return to its normal length.

Your skeleton has joints which allow movement when your muscles contract and relax. Some of these joints are very flexible, like your shoulder and hip. Others, like your knee and elbow, move a little less. Others, like your spine and neck, are only able to move a little.

It is important to eat a healthy diet with enough protein to help your muscles grow properly. We find protein in meat, fish, eggs and beans.

There are over 600 muscles in your body, from those in your toes to your tongue!

Let's try to make a model of an arm.

1. Find two strips of carboard, a split pin and a piece of elastic (or a rubber band that's cut in half).
2. Attach the ends of the carboard strips together with the split pin.
3. Poke a hole in each cardboard strip, thread the elastic through each hole and tie the ends together.

Which part represents the bones, the joint and the muscles?