VCE Physical Education

Traralgon College

Unit 1

The Musculoskeletal System

Anatomical Terms

To avoid confusion when describing various body movements and positions of the musculoskeletal system, standard anatomical terminology is used.

Medial Direction – toward the midline of the body

Lateral Direction – toward the side of the body.

Anatomical Terms

Superficial Direction – close to the surface of the body.

Deep Position – any feature that is further away from the surface of the body. Example – the ribs are “Superficial” and the heart is “deep”.

Proximal and Distal Positions – refers to the limbs. Proximal means “closer” to where the limb is attached. Distal means further from the point of attachment – the fingers are distal to the shoulder.

Superior – a position towards the head.Inferior – a position away from the head.

Skeletal System Overview

A newborn baby has 305 bones.As a human develops to the age of 25, some

bones fuse together to obtain maximum strength.

The average human skeleton has 206 bones.Largest bones – Thigh (Femur) and the Upper

Arm (Humerus).Smallest bones – Middle Ear (Maleus, Incus and

Stapes).All bones are living organs, which contain living

(cells) and non-living (mineral) materials.

Functions of Bones

Bones have 5 major functions:Support – Provide support for tendons and ligaments and the framework for body shape.Protection – The cranium protects your brain, the ribs and sternum protect your internal organs such as heart and lungs.Movement – Bones work with muscles to produce movement. Muscles are attached to the skeleton and work by contracting (shortening) and pulling on bones.Storage – Bones are the site for storage and release of excess minerals. These are released as the body requires.Blood production – Some bones (ribs, vertebrae, humerus and femur) contain red bone marrow. This makes red cells, white cells and platelets for blood.

Cranium

Mandible

Clavicle

Sternum

Ribs

Radius

Ulna

Carpals

Metacarpals

Femur

Tibia

TarsalsMetatarsals

Patella

Fibula

Pelvis

Vertebrae

Humerus

Scapula

Phalanges

Phalanges

Bone Classifications – Long Bones

Long bones consist of a long shaft covered by hard bone around a hollow centre which contains yellow marrow.

The two ends contain spongy bone and red marrow.

These bones are light but very strong, and are major weight-bearing bones of the body.

Long Bone - Femur

Bone Classifications – Short Bones

Short bones are chunky, compact bones that are strong and reinforced by thickening of the bone tissue.

They contain spongy bone and allow a variety of movements at joints.

Short Bone - Carpals

Bone Classifications – Flat Bones

Flat bones are made up of two strong layers of compact bone, joined by a layer of spongy bone.

These bones give protection to organs beneath them and allow for large areas of muscle attachment.

Flat Bone - Scapula

Bone Classifications – Irregular Bones

Irregular bones are made up of a thin layer of compact bone containing a mass of spongy bone.

Irregular bones are reinforced where extra strength is needed.

Irregular Bone - Vertebra

Division of the Skeleton

The skeleton has two main parts: ◦Axial Skeleton and the Appendicular Skeleton.

The Axial Skeleton includes the skull, the vertebral column (spine, sacrum, and coccyx), the sternum, and the ribs. Its components are aligned along the long axis of the body.

The Appendicular Skeleton includes the bones of the upper extremities (arms, forearms, and hands), the pectoral (shoulder) girdle, the pelvic (hip) girdle, and the bones of the lower extremities (thigh, knee, leg, and foot). Its components are outside the body main axis.

Axial and Appendicular Skeleton

The vertebral column Involved in more than 95% of movement Comprised of 33 bones (9 fused and 24 unfused) Cervical vertebra

◦ 7 unfused bones◦ Make up the neck and are responsible for supporting the

head Thoracic vertebra

◦ 12 unfused bones◦ Connect the rib cage to the spinal column and form a

protective shield for the heart and lungs Lumbar vertebra

◦ 5 unfused bones◦ Largest and have high weight carrying capacity

Sacrum◦ 5 fused bones which fuses to the pelvis◦ Together they distribute weight of the upper body

Coccyx◦ 4 fused bones forms the base of the vertebral column◦ Provides site for muscle attachment

Types of Joints

Joints occur when 2 or more bones meet. They are held by ligaments (thick cords of stringy tissue).

Joints are essential for movement, as muscles need to pass over them for contraction to occur.

The type of joint will determine how moveable the bones are. There are three main types of joints:

Fibrous – immovable.Cartilaginous – partially moveable.Synovial – freely moveable.

Types of Movement

Flexion – the angle of the joint is decreased.Extension – the angle of the joint is increased.Adduction – a body part is moved towards the

middle of the body.Abduction – a body part is moved from the

midline of the body.Rotation – a body part is moved either

outwards or inwards around its long axis.Circumduction – a body part is moved in a

cone shape.

Types of Movement

Supination – a rotation of the forearm which causes the palm of the hand to face upwards.

Pronation – a rotation of the forearm which causes the palm of the hand to face downwards.

Eversion – a rotation of the sole of the foot outwards.

Inversion – a rotation of the sole of the foot inwards.

Refer to Figure 11.22 to 11.26 on page 270 and 271.

Muscular System Overview

There are over 600 muscles in the human body.

There size ranges from one that make the hairs on your arms stand up to the large muscles in your upper leg.

Without muscles our hearts wouldn’t beat, we couldn’t breathe, digest food, walk, talk or reproduce.

Functions of Muscles

Muscles have 3 major functions:Movement – Most of our muscles are under voluntary control such as skeletal muscles responsible for moving our bones. Some muscles we do not consciously control such as muscles of the eye and heart.Posture – Muscles make continuous changes to our posture allowing for the constant pull (gravity) placed on our body.Body Heat – The energy muscles require to contract produces movement and releases heat that helps maintain body temperature.

Types of Muscles

There are 3 types of muscles tissue in our body:

Skeletal Muscle – Muscles attached to our bones under voluntary control.

Smooth Muscle – Muscles found internally in blood vessels and walls of the intestine and stomach under involuntary control.

Cardiac Muscle – Muscles that make up the walls of the heart which are under involuntary control.

DeltoidDeltoid

Pectorals

Trapezius

BicepsTriceps

Rhomboids

Rectus Abdominis

Gluteus Maximus

SartoriusBiceps Femoris

Soleus

Latissimus Dorsi

Quadriceps

Gastrocnemius

Sternomastoid

A Delts Deltoid Shoulder Lifts arm

B Pecs Pectorals Chest Pulls shoulders forward

Letter Colour Common Name Scientific Name Location (Where it is on the body)

Action (What is does)

C Traps Trapezius Between neck and shoulder Lifts (shrugs) shoulders

D Biceps Biceps Front of upper arm Bends elbow

E Triceps Triceps Back of upper arm Straighten elbow

F Rhomboids Rhomboids Between shoulders Pulls shoulders back

G Abs Rectus Abdominis Stomach Bends trunk forward

H Glutes Gluteus Maximus Buttocks Straightens hip

I Sartorius Sartorius Thigh Rotate leg

J Hamstrings Biceps Femoris Back of thigh Bends knee

K Soleus Soleus Front of leg Flexes ankle

L Lats Latissimus Dorsi Underarms Pulls shoulders down

M Quads Quadriceps Front of thigh Straightens knee

N Calf Gastrocnemius Behind shin Straightens ankle

O Sternomastoid Sternomastoid Neck Turns head

The Muscular System Table

Types of Muscle Fibres

Skeletal muscle is made up of two basic fibre types:

Slow-twitch Fibres (Type 1) and

Fast-twitch Fibres (Type 2).

Slow-twitch Muscle Fibres

Colour = Red

Contract slowly over a longer period of time.

Best suited to aerobic and endurance activities.

Exerts less force and can contract repeatedly.

Fast-twitch Muscle Fibres

Colour = White

Contract rapidly over a shorter period of time.

Best suited to anaerobic and high intensity activities.

Exerts great force in bursts of power and speed.

Athletic Comparisons

Sport % slow twitch % fast twitch

Distance runners 60-90 10-40

Track sprinters 25-45 55-75

Weight lifters 45-55 45-55

Shot putters 25-40 60-75

Non-athletes 47-53 47-53

Figure 11.31 and 11.32 on Page 274 and 275

Muscle Structure

Types of Muscle Contractions

There are three types of muscle contractions (listed in order of most common to least common):

Isotonic Contraction,

Isometric Contraction, and

Isokenitic Contraction.

Isotonic Contraction

Most common muscle contraction.

Occurs when the muscle length changes as tension is developed.

Example – when a shot-putter pick up the shot-put and raises it to his or her neck.

Isometric Contraction

Occurs when the muscle contracts but do not produce any movement.

Example – if you were to hold out your arm, palm up and a weight is placed on your hand. Your arm muscles would develop tension but not change in length.

Isokinetic Contraction

Occur when tension in a muscle is maximal throughout the range of motion.

This type of contraction exercises the muscle most effectively.

Specialised gym equipment assist with these contractions.

The harder you push or pull, the greater the resistance offered by the machine.

Summary

What you should know – page 1 - 27.

Test your knowledge – page 29.

SAC 1 - Preparation Sheet