Biology
Musculoskeletal System
The Musculoskeletal System
The Musculoskeletal System gives support and protection to the body and the ability to move. This comprises of bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints and other connective tissues. The musculoskeletal system works by nervous system sending message to skeletal muscles to activate. The muscle fibers tense up and muscle activates and pulls the tendon which in turn pull the bone and moves it. Adults have 206 bones and about 700 muscles.
This system depicts how bones are connected to each other and to the muscle fibers through tendons and ligaments which are connective tissues. Bones are kept in place by muscles. Joints connects bones.
Parts of Musculoskeletal system
• Bones that support organs and tissues. They store fat and calcium and produce blood cells. They provide structure to body and help in movement
• Muscles helps in movement, speaking, chewing, controlling breathing, digestion, heartbeat etc.
• Cartilage protects bones from rubbing each other
• Tendons which are fibrous connective tissues, connect bones to muscles
• Ligaments which are fibrous connective tissues that surrounds joints and bind them together
• Joints are junctions between 2 or more bones.
Primary functions of the musculoskeletal system
• Helps in the motion of the body
• Protecting the vital organs of the body
• Give support to the body
Skeletal System
• The skeleton stores calcium and phosphorous and helps in regulation of mineral balance in blood stream
• The red bone marrow is important for blood cell production
• The yellow bone marrow has fat which can be used by body when required
Requirements for healthy musculoskeletal system
• Exercise regularly
• Maintaining healthy weight
• Balanced diet
• 8 hours of sleep
• Don’t smoke
Types of muscle tissue
• Cardiac muscle which is the muscular layer of heart is used to circulate blood. The movement is involuntary.
• Skeletal muscle attaches to the bones and provides voluntary movement
• Smooth muscle used to regulate many subsystems of body involuntarily e.g. digestion, regulation of blood pressure etc.
Skeletal muscles
• Muscles of head and neck
• Muscles of the trunk
• Muscles of the upper limbs
• Muscles of the lower limbs
Diseases of Musculoskeletal System
• Osteoporosis, fractures etc. affects bones
• Some types of arthritis and gout affect joints
• Sarcopenia, which is loss of muscle mass affects muscles
• Connective tissues inflammation
• Vasculitis, which is inflammation of blood vessels
• Multiple body areas are affected such as neck pain, back pain etc.