Musculoskeletal System

What is the function of the skeleton in movement?

Provides sites for muscle attachment.

Bones and joints work with muscles to enable movement, such as walking, running and sprinting.

Example: vertebrae allow the body to bend, stretch and rotate.

What is the support function of the skeleton?

Bones support the body and provide structure.

What is the production function of the skeleton?

Bone marrow produces stem cells, erythrocytes (red blood cells) and lymphocytes.

What is the storage function of the skeleton?

Bones store minerals, including calcium and phosphate.

What is the protection function of the skeleton?

Bones protect internal organs.

e.g

Cranium → protects the brain.

Rib cage → protects the heart and lungs.

What are the main features of the skeleton?

The skeleton consists of 206 bones connected through joints.

It provides structure and strength, protects the body, allows movement, and provides sites for muscle attachment.

What are fibrous joints?

Immovable joints where bones are fused together.

e.g skull

What are cartilaginous joints?

Joints where bones are connected by flexible cartilage, allowing some movement.

e.g rib cage

What are synovial joints?

Freely movable joints containing synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint and allows movement.

e.g hip joint

What are long bones?

Bones that are longer than they are wide.

What are short bones?

Bones that are wider than they are long.

What are sesamoid bones?

Bones embedded within a tendon.

What are flat bones?

Bones with flat surfaces used for protection or muscle attachment.

What are irregular bones?

Bones with specific shapes suited to particular functions.

e.g vertebrae

What is the function of the cranium?

Encloses and protects the brain.

What is the function of the clavicle?

Connects to the sternum and helps support the shoulder and allow upper-limb movement.

What is the function of the rib cage?

Protects internal organs, including the heart and lungs, and helps protect blood vessels.

What bones form the pelvis?

The sacrum, coccyx and two hip bones.

What is the function of the pelvis?

Protects the reproductive organs and supports and protects organs in the pelvis and lower abdomen.

What is the function of the tibia?

Supports weight and helps movement at the knee and ankle.

What is the function of the fibula?

Helps stabilize the lower leg and ankle.

What is the function of the femur?

Supports body weight and enables movement at the hip and knee.

What is the function of the patella?

Protects the knee joint and helps the quadriceps muscles extend the knee.

What is the function of the ulna?

Helps stabilize the forearm and allows movement at the elbow.

What is the function of the radius?

Helps with forearm rotation and wrist movement.

What is the function of the humerus?

The bone of the upper arm, connecting the shoulder to the elbow.

What are the functions of the vertebrae?

Protect the spinal cord and form the spinal column, providing support and allowing movement.

What is the role of the intervertebral discs?

Cartilage discs between vertebrae that absorb shock and allow flexibility.

What do ligaments do?

Connect bones to other bones and help stabilise joints

What is the function of the sternum?

Helps protect the heart and other structures in the chest as part of the rib cage

What are the functions of muscles?

Facilitate movement by contracting and pulling on bones.

Maintain posture and body position.

Support joints and stabilize the skeleton.

What are the characteristics and functions of skeletal muscle?

Also called striated muscle.

Attached to bones.

Under voluntary control.

Enables movement.

What are the characteristics and locations of smooth muscle?

Found in internal organs, such as the digestive tract and blood vessels.

Under involuntary control.

What are the characteristics of cardiac muscle?

Found only in the heart.

Under involuntary control.

Contracts rhythmically.

How is bone tissue remodelled?

Bone is living tissue that is constantly remodelled.

Osteoblasts build bone.

Osteoclasts break down bone.

Remodelling responds to physical activity, hormones and nutrition.

How does bone density change with age?

Bone density decreases with age, increasing the risk of fractures.