Function Of The Skeletal And Muscular System – The Skeletal system is the body system made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments and other tissues that perform essential functions for the human body. Bone tissue, or osseous tissue, is a hard, dense connective tissue that makes up most of the adult skeleton, the body’s internal support structure. In areas of the skeleton where whole bones move against each other (for example, joints such as the shoulder or between the bones of the spine), cartilage, a semi-rigid form of connective tissue, provides flexibility and smooth surfaces for the movement. In addition, ligaments composed of dense connective tissue surround these joints, and bind skeletal elements together (ligament is the dense connective tissue that connects bones to other bones). Together, they perform the following functions:
Some functions of the skeletal system are more easily observed than others. When you move you can feel how your bones support you, facilitate your movement, and protect the soft organs of your body. Just as the steel beams of a building provide a scaffold to support its weight, the bones and cartilage of your skeletal system compose the scaffolding that supports the rest of your body. Without the skeletal system, you would be a limp mass of organs, muscles, and skin. Bones facilitate movement by serving as attachment points for your muscles. Bones also protect internal organs from injury by covering or surrounding them. For example, your ribs protect your lungs and heart, the bones of your vertebral column (spinal cord) protect your spinal cord, and the bones of your skull (skull) protect the brain (see Figure 6.1.1).
Function Of The Skeletal And Muscular System
On a metabolic level, bone tissue performs several critical functions. For one, bone tissue acts as a reservoir for a number of minerals important for the functioning of the body, especially calcium, and phosphorus. These minerals, incorporated into the bone tissue, can be released back into the blood to maintain the levels needed to support physiological processes. Calcium ions, for example, are essential for muscle contractions and are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses.
Human Musculoskeletal System
Bone also serves as a site for fat storage and blood cell production. The unique connective tissue that fills the interior of most bones is called Bone Marrow. There are two types of bone marrow: the yellow bone marrow and the red bone marrow. The yellow marrow contains adipose tissue, and the triglycerides stored in the adipocytes of this tissue can be released to serve as an energy source for other body tissues. The red bone marrow is where the production of blood cells takes place (called hematopoiesis, hemato- = “blood”, -poiesis = “to make”). Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all produced in the red bone marrow. As we age, the distribution of red and yellow bone marrow changes as shown in the figure (Figure 6.1.2).
Figure 6.1.2 – Marrow: Bone contains variable amounts of yellow and/or red marrow. The yellow bone marrow stores fat and the red bone marrow is responsible for the production of blood cells (hematopoiesis).
Orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and injuries related to the musculoskeletal system. Some orthopedic problems can be treated with medications, exercises, braces, and other devices, but others are best treated with surgery (Figure 6.1.3).
Figure 6.1.3 – Arm Brace: An Orthopedist sometimes prescribes the use of a brace that strengthens the underlying bony structure that is being used to support it. (credit: Juhan Sonin)
Muscle Diseases And Disorders You Need To Know
While the origin of the word “orthopedics” (orto- = “straight”; paed- = “child”), literally means “straightening the child”, orthopedists can have patients ranging from pediatric to geriatric. In recent years, orthopedists have even performed prenatal surgery to correct spina bifida, a congenital defect in which the neural canal in the fetal spine does not close completely during embryological development.
Orthopedists commonly treat bone and joint injuries but also treat other bone conditions including curvature of the spine. Lateral curvatures (scoliosis) can be severe enough to slip under the shoulder blade (scapula) forcing it upward as a hump. Spinal curvatures can also be excessive dorsoventrally (kyphosis) causing a backward hunch and thoracic compression. These curvatures often appear in preteens as a result of poor posture, abnormal growth, or undetermined causes. Mostly, they are easily treated by orthopedists. As people age, accumulated injuries to the spinal column and diseases such as osteoporosis can also lead to curvatures of the spine, hence the creaking that you sometimes see in the elderly.
Some orthopedists specialize in sports medicine, which addresses both simple injuries, such as a sprained ankle, and complex injuries, such as a torn rotator cuff in the shoulder. Treatment can range from exercise to surgery.
The main functions of the skeletal system are supporting the body, facilitating movement, protecting internal organs, storing minerals and fat, and forming blood cells .
Diagnostics Related To The Muscular System
An organ system made of bones, cartilage and ligaments that provides for movement, support, protection, mineral and fat storage, blood cell formation
This work, Anatomy & Physiology, is adapted from Anatomy & Physiology by Stax, licensed under CC BY. This edition, with revised content and artwork, is licensed under CC BY-SA except where otherwise indicated.
Anatomy and Physiology Copyright © 2019 by Lindsay M. Biga, Staci Bronson, Sierra Dawson, Amy Harwell, Robin Hopkins, Joel Kaufmann, Mike LeMaster, Philip Matern, Katie Morrison-Graham, Kristen Oja, Devon Quick, Jon Runyeon, OSU OERU, and Stax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. Also known as the musculoskeletal system, it is made up of bones and connective tissues, such as ligaments, tendons and cartilage.
There are many functions performed by the skeletal system besides giving its shape to the human body. Those functions include:
Muscle Contraction And Locomotion
Acts as a storage for minerals: Minerals such as vitamin D and calcium are stored in the skeletal system.
The bone marrow found in some bones of the adult skeleton (pelvis, spine, breastbone etc.) is a soft, gelatinous substance that produces stem cells. Stem cells mature into both red blood cells, white cells, and platelets as well as cartilage, fat, and bone. The bone marrow makes about 200 billion new red cells every day!
Bone marrow transplants are often performed as a life-saving measure for leukemia patients where the cancer has caused abnormal blood cells to be produced by the bone marrow.
The human skeletal system consists of 206 bones, and each bone has three layers. Those layers are:
Muscular System Anatomy And Physiology: Video
Ø Fixed joints that do not allow bones to move, such as those between the bones of the skull.
Ø Partially mobile joints that allow a limited range of motion, such as those in the rib cage.
The structure of a skeletal system can be affected by numerous complications. While some of the complications occur over time due to the wear and tear of movements, others occur due to illness and injuries.
Tears and sprains: Connective tissue can also become damaged as one ages, and tears and sprains can occur when one encounters illness or trauma.
Introduction To The Musculoskeletal System
The bone itself is made up of a series of layers of tissue. These layers contain a mixture of substances such as collagen (protein), calcium and bone marrow to facilitate health, productivity (bone production) and to help blood vessels to they nourish the bones.
There are 5 different groups of bones, each shaped in a slightly different way for their role in the skeleton. Long bones as their name suggests are longer than they are wide. The bones in this group include the clavicle, phalanx and femur. They are mainly responsible for bearing load/stress and are vital for movement.
Short bones like the carpals are as wide as they are long and help provide support and stability to the joints and as such, there is little movement of these bones.
Flat bones provide protection for vital structures. The most obvious example of this is the bones of the skull.
The Human Skeletal System
The sesamoid bone is a bone located in a tendon or muscle. These are often very small the largest being the patella. They act as a pulley, assisting in the transmission of load/force through a tendon or muscle.
Finally, there is a category for those who don’t fit into the above! Irregular bones have several roles and appear to be specifically adapted to their unique position in the skeleton. The load-bearing vertebrae, the sphenoid bone in the skull for the safe protection of major vascular and nervous structures in and out of the skull, as well as protecting the brain itself.
Yes – particularly those with bone marrow need a rich vascular network in order to flow blood products around the body as well as enough nutrients itself to continue working.
An important example of the blood supply to bone is in patients with a wrist fracture. They are carefully examined in the Emergency Room and precautions are taken if there is a suspicion of a fracture of the scaphoid bone. The scaphoid bone has a poor blood supply and if it is disturbed in a fracture, it can cause necrosis (withering) of the bone, leading to pain and
Organizing Concepts: Major Organ Systems Of The Body Grouped By Primary Function
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