Mussel (n) common name used for a number of bivalve mollusks.

Muscle (n) a band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or animal body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of parts of the body; physical power or strength.

Mussels are not my favorite food.  They’re not even in the top twenty.  Let’s be perfectly honest, I don’t like mussels.  I won’t go out of my way to eat most things with shells – snails, crab, lobster, oysters, mussels, etc.  Clams only make the list of yum because of the thick, creamy goodness known as New England Clam Chowder.  Butter + Cream = Delicious!  Mussels, on the other hand, come in those deep purple-black, elongated shells and are lovely to find on the beach…for a seagull snack.  I know there some of you who may like those bivalves – enjoy!  I’ve had them in paella.  All the wonderful spices still can’t bring me to enjoy those chewy little creatures.  Blegh!

I did find some interesting tidbits of information about mussels.  They are long-lived critters with lives spanning decades and sometimes centuries!  Mussels can be found in both salt and fresh water, living in mussel beds with sometimes 30 or more species in an area.  Though they stay in one location, they do move about with the use of their “muscular” foot. By inserting their “foot” into the sand, they can pull themselves forward, inching along the bottom.  It helps them search for food and escape falling water levels.  As larvae, mussels attach themselves to fish as parasites until they reach juvenile age when they detach and fall to the sand below. Fascinating facts about a seemingly insignificant creature.

Our muscles, however, are visibly important.  They are one of the reasons we can move, lift and propel ourselves.  Without these incredible fibrous tissues, our existence would be stationary. Muscles give us the ability to stand tall or squat low.  They keep us strong by allowing us to be active.  If we use our muscles less, we’ll experience weakness and lethargy.  Muscle tissue is made up of muscle cells grouped into elastic bands that contract together to produce motion or force.  Powerful stuff!

A few fun facts about muscles:  Our bodies have 600+ muscles and comprise about 40% of our weight. There are three types: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal attach to bones and help movement and posture.  Smooth muscles are found in the linings of organs and contain different digestive juices.  Cardiac muscles are found in the heart and are responsible for its pumping action.  It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown.  Which would be easier to do?

Once again Word Well Wednesday has brought up a winner in contrasts despite phonetically sounding the same.  Muscle onward!