Unit 8: Physiology of human body systems
The musculoskeletal system
Task 1
The musculoskeletal system provides the human body with structure and support allowing the
movement of the body to take place. The main components of the musculoskeletal system include
bones, muscles, and joints but also other parts such as ligaments and tendons.
Skeletons
There are two types of skeletons in the human body, which are the axial and appendicular skeletons.
The axial skeleton is made up of 80 bones, which are found in the head, neck, back and chest. These
bones are present to support and protect the brain, spinal cord, and internal organs. Specific
examples of bones from the axial skeleton are the cranium, mandible, and maxilla, which are part of
the skull. The image below shows the cranium, mandible (shown in green), and maxilla (shown in
red) where the cranium is the skull without the mandible:
[1]
The appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 bones, which are found in different parts of the body
such as the shoulder girdle, the upper limbs, the pelvic girdle, and the lower limbs. The function of
the appendicular skeleton is to support the attachment and functions of the upper and lower limbs
of the human body. Specific examples of bones from the appendicular skeleton are the cranium,
mandible, and maxilla, which are part of the skull. The image below shows the fibula and tibia:
[2]
The musculoskeletal system
Task 1
The musculoskeletal system provides the human body with structure and support allowing the
movement of the body to take place. The main components of the musculoskeletal system include
bones, muscles, and joints but also other parts such as ligaments and tendons.
Skeletons
There are two types of skeletons in the human body, which are the axial and appendicular skeletons.
The axial skeleton is made up of 80 bones, which are found in the head, neck, back and chest. These
bones are present to support and protect the brain, spinal cord, and internal organs. Specific
examples of bones from the axial skeleton are the cranium, mandible, and maxilla, which are part of
the skull. The image below shows the cranium, mandible (shown in green), and maxilla (shown in
red) where the cranium is the skull without the mandible:
[1]
The appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 bones, which are found in different parts of the body
such as the shoulder girdle, the upper limbs, the pelvic girdle, and the lower limbs. The function of
the appendicular skeleton is to support the attachment and functions of the upper and lower limbs
of the human body. Specific examples of bones from the appendicular skeleton are the cranium,
mandible, and maxilla, which are part of the skull. The image below shows the fibula and tibia:
[2]
