Rocket tapes a rubber band to his model bones. He pulls, and the tape pops off. "It keeps coming loose!"
Raven looks closely. "What do you notice? Where does the band attach?"
Nova hovers by the loose end. "Your body uses tough cords to connect muscle and bone," she says. "Look for a strong link."
Rocket grabs some sturdy string.
Tendons are tough cords that connect muscles to bones.
They hold on so well that when a muscle contracts, the bone moves too.
Most skeletal muscles stretch across a joint.
One end attaches to one bone. The other end attaches to another bone.
Do not mix up tendons and ligaments. Ligaments connect bone to bone.
| Connector | What it joins |
|---|---|
| tendon | muscle to bone |
| ligament | bone to bone |
Your face has many muscles.
Many face muscles attach under the skin instead of to bone.
That lets you make dozens of faces, like a smile or a surprised look.
Your tongue is a group of muscles too. It helps you talk and chew.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Tendons connect muscles to bones. | ? |
| Ligaments connect muscles to skin. | ? |
| Many face muscles attach under the skin. | ? |
| The tongue is made of a group of muscles. | ? |
Terrific connecting! Tomorrow we meet three kinds of muscle, including one that never takes a break.