MSK Basics

Question 1

What are the functions of bone?

Answer 1

Support

Protection

Metabolic - Ca²⁺ and phosphate homeostasis

Storage - collagen, fat, growth factors

Movement

Haematopoiesis

Question 2

What are the functions of skeletal muscle?

Answer 2

Locomotion

Posture

Metabolic - fast twitch/ slow twitch muscle fibres

Venous return - e.g. leg muscles compressing deep veins and help to propel venous blood back to the heart

Heat production - shivering

Continence - pelvic floor muscles

Question 3

What do tendons do and what is their role?

Answer 3

Connect muscle to bone

Role - force-transmission from the contracting the muscle to the bone to which they are attached.

Question 4

What do ligaments do?

Answer 4

Connect bone to bone - support joints and prevent an excessive ROM

Question 5

What is fascia and what are its functions?

Answer 5

Sheets of CT

Envelops groups of muscles and divides body parts into anatomical compartments

Some is very tough (fascia lata in the thigh) serves a protective function for underlying structures

Question 6

What is hyaline cartilage

Answer 6

Found on the ends of bones contributing to joints.

It is very smooth and helps to create almost frictionless motion at the joint

Question 7

What is fibrocartilage

Answer 7

Cartilage with a higher collagen content

Shock absorber

Increases bony congruity (creating a complementary shape of bony surfaces to improve stability)

Question 8

What is the synovial membrane?

Answer 8

found within joints, bursae and tendon sheaths. It produces synovial fluid which lubricates the joints