Musculoskeletal system Flashcards
What are the types of bones?
Long, short, flat, irregular and sesamoid.
Long bones
Structure: Long bones are longer than they are wide
Function: Production of blood cell, act as levers, generally bones of the limbs and work with joints to create movement when muscles pull on them.
E.g Femur, phalanges, humerus, radius and tibia
Short bones
Structure: Box-like shape
Function: weight bearing, capable of absorbing large impact (shock absorbers) and used for fine movement
E.g Carpals and tarsals
Flat bones
Structure: Thin, ,plate- like bones
Function: Protection from vital organs, have a large surface area for muscle and tendon attachment
E.g cranium, sternum, pelvis and ribs
Irregular bones
Structure: Unusual shape designed for a unique purpose
Function: Usually protects something, might have lots of attachment points for muscles, provides shape and structure.
E.g vertebrae, atlas and axis
Sesamoid bones
Structure: Small, rounded bones
Function: Found where a tendon passes over a joint, act to protect the tendon and resist compression.
E.g patella
What are the 5 main functions of a skeleton?
Support and structure
Aids movement
Protection of vital organs
Production of blood cells
Storage of minerals
Bone development and growth
As a baby most bones are made of cartilage which is soft and flexible. As you grow, the cartilage is hardened into bone through ossification. Growth occurs at growth plates (epiphyseal plate) found at either end of the long bones. Cartilage cells divide and increase in number in the growth plates. When a bone reaches its full size, the growth plates are converted into hard bone.
What is the order of the spinal column?
Cool Cervical
Teenagers Thoracic
Love Lumbar
Spinal Sacrum
Columns Coccyx
What is hyaline cartilage?
It covers the ends of the bones and stops them rubbing together and absorbs shock.
What is epiphysis?
The ‘head’ of the bone
What is cancellous bone?
Spongy bone that stores the red bone marrow where blood cells are made.
What is an epiphyseal plate?
The area where bones grow in length
What is diaphysis?
The shaft
What is compact bone?
Hard, dense bone. It gives strength to the hollow part of the bone.
What is periosteum?
A protective layer where there is no hyaline cartilage
What is the medullary cavity/ marrow cavity?
It contains the yellow bone marrow where white blood cells are made
Atlas and axis
Two vertebrae at the top of the vertebral column that connect the vertebral column to the cranium. Atlas supports the head and allows us to nod. Axis allows us to shake our head.
Cervical vertebrae
Cervical vertebrae allows a point for muscle to attatch
Thoracic vertebrae
Protects the heart and lungs. Not much movement.
Lumbar vertebrae
The biggest individual vertebrae because it supports most of our body weight
Sacrum vertebrae
Sacrum vertebrae are fused together to become the sacrum. They transmit body weight to the pelvic girdle.
What are the bones that make up a joint called?
Articulating bones
Agonist
Muscle that contracts/ shortens and is responsible for creating movement at a joint. Also known as the ‘prime mover’
Fixator
Muscle around the joint from which the agonist/ prime mover originates. The fixator muscle helps to stabilise an area of the body whilst another area moves. E.g in a bench press, the anterior deltoid muscle acts as a fixator, contracting to help stabilise the shoulder.
Tendon
A fibrous connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone
Origin
The point where a muscle attaches to a bone which stays relatively fixed/ stationary during muscular contraction
Insertion
The point where a muscle attaches to a bone which moves closer to the origin during muscular contraction.
