Many Different Muscles
Because there are so many skeletal muscles in your body, it would be impossible to name every single one - it would be like calling out 650 names in class! But some of the more important skeletal muscles may be ones that you've heard of already.

In each of your shoulders is a deltoid (say: dell-toyd) muscle. Your deltoid muscles help you move your shoulders every which way - from swinging a softball bat to shrugging your shoulders when you're not sure of an answer.

The pectoralis (say: peck-tore-al-iss) muscles are found on each side of your upper chest. These are usually called pectorals (say: peck-tore-uls), or pecs for short. When many boys hit puberty, their pectoral muscles become larger. Many athletes and bodybuilders often have large pecs, as well.

Below these pectorals, down under your rib cage, are your rectus abdominus (say: reck-tuss ab-dom-in-uss) muscles, or abdominals (say: ab-dom-in-uls). They are also sometimes called abs for short.

Remember before when you made a muscle with your arm? The muscle in your upper arm is called your bicep (say: bye-sepp). When you contract your bicep, you can actually see it push up under your skin.

And when you pulled your leg down and through to do that pretend kick? The muscle that you contracted in the front of your thigh is called quadriceps (say: kwad-rih-sepps) or quad, for short. Many people who run, bike, or play certain kinds of sports can develop their quads and make them get large and strong.

And when it's time for you to take a seat? You'll be sitting on your gluteus maximus (say: glue-tee-us max-ih-muss), the muscles that are under the skin and fat in your behind!

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