Unit 8: Physiology of Human Body Systems
Unit 8A: Musculoskeletal Disorders
Vocational Scenario:
I am employed by a large sports and fitness company as a trainee Health Care Assistant within their
Occupational Health Department (OHD). My employers are concerned that a significant number of
working days are lost due to employee absence through musculoskeletal disorders. They hope that
by liaising with other Health Care professionals, the OHD will be able to create support programmes
that offer employees education and guidance regarding the structure and function of the
musculoskeletal system, the treatments available for disorders of the system and the effective
clinical management of common musculoskeletal disorders. The company’s management team hope
that this initiative will reduce absences by expediting employees return to work in the shortest
possible time. My role is to carry out research in order to produce information that will be used to
educate the employees.
Introduction of the skeletons:
Your body is surrounded by your skeleton. In addition to maintaining its shape and enabling
movement, it shields your internal organs. There are 206 bones in the human body. Skeletons come
in two different forms: appendicular and axial. 80 of the 206 bones make up the axial skeleton,
which is primarily made up of the bones around your back, ribs, and head. These bones give these
bodily components support and shape.
The remaining 126 bones in the body are found in the appendicular skeleton, which also includes the
arms and legs and all surrounding bones, as well as the shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle and its
surrounding parts. Because the appendicular skeleton contains the primary movement limbs, such
as the shoulders, arms, pelvis and legs, it allows the body to perform movement the primary
purpose of allowing movement throughout the body.
Diagram:
This is a musculoskeletal system in a healthy body
,Reference: Clasoos Book 1 page 290
Functions of the musculoskeletal system:
Structure Functions
Tendons Tendons connect muscles to bones, when muscles contract tendons pull on
bone causing movement and allowing us to perform tasks.
Ligaments Ligaments connect bones to other bones and provide stability to our joints
and allow movement of joints as freely as needed
Skeleton The skeleton has so many functions such as protection- it protects so many
of our internal organs such as brain and spinal cord, attachment for skeletal
muscles- allows skeletal muscles to attach to different parts of the skeleton.
Support- helps us stand upright without any effects like compression of any
organs. Movement- allows areas for skeletal muscles to attach and joints
and tendons allow movement.
Skeletal muscles The main function is movement- skeletal muscles are normally in a pair so
one will relax and the other will contract and this allows our movement.
Axial skeleton:
I briefly mentioned that the axial skeleton contained the bones around the head, back and ribs and
they do this to provide support and protection for these areas as these are quite important parts of
our body. If we look at this more specifically into the bones of the head we have: Cranium, mandible
and maxilla.
Cranium:
The cranium is a part of the skull, not another name of the skull it refers to the upper part of the
skull and consists of 22 bones. It is very important as it protects our brain and the upper part of the
skull as well as providing structure to the shape of our head
, Mandible:
The mandible is also linked to the skull like the cranium but is found in our jaw specifically the lower
jaw region and it is the biggest facial bone. The mandible is able to move so it assists in tasks such as
speaking, producing facial expressions and laughing. One of its most important functions is chewing
as it contains the lower teeth, and it assists with the digestive system with mechanical digestion.
Maxilla:
The maxilla is also related to the skull like the cranium and mandible as well as being linked to
mandible as it is part of the jaw region too but more specifically the upper jaw region. It contains the
nasal region, some parts of the cheek and the upper teeth region. Like the mandible it helps with
chewing and mechanical digestion of food as well as providing structure to the nasal region, upper
jaw and cheek and taking care of the teeth.
Cervical:
The cervical vertebrae are composed of 2 sections and within these 2 sections there is overall 7
bones/vertebrates which are C1 all the way to C7. The two most important vertebrate are the first
two- C1 is known as the atlas and C2 is known as the axis. C1 begins from the skull and C7 is at the
shoulders, overall, this vertebra focuses on the upper regions of the body. Due to the location of the
vertebrae beginning from the skull it assists with the stability of the mass of the head and in turn
allows for the movement of the head. In doing so with the stability of the head it also alleviates the
pressure on spine.
Thoracic:
The thoracic vertebrae are the next part of the spine, it focuses on the middle area of the spinal
region and body. It consists of 12 vertebrates so from C8 to C20, the vertebrates this time are all
followed by intervertebral discs each. These vertebrates are average sized and has a curved outline.
Due to containing intervertebral discs this allows more support to the vertebrae and spinal cord as a
whole and allows the thoracic vertebrae to carry its weight comfortably without harming the rest of
the body and providing protection to the body like the ribs and spinal cord. As well as the support
and protection of the body due to having lots of vertebrates and discs it allows muscles to join on
and join together easily.
Lumbar vertebrae:
The lumbar vertebrae focuses on the lower half of the spine, it is composed of the vertebrates L1 to
L5, these vertebrates have the ability to shift around which is something that is quite unique to the
lumbar region as the other vertebrates are in a fixed position. The lumbar vertebrate is bean shaped
and is substantially larger than the other vertebrates discussed. Overall, it delivers support to
majority of the back and spinal cord as well as holding up pretty much all of body weight. It also
allows movement of the lower back easily due to the moveable vertebrates and allows muscles to
join to it as well as ligaments too.
Sacrum:
Unit 8A: Musculoskeletal Disorders
Vocational Scenario:
I am employed by a large sports and fitness company as a trainee Health Care Assistant within their
Occupational Health Department (OHD). My employers are concerned that a significant number of
working days are lost due to employee absence through musculoskeletal disorders. They hope that
by liaising with other Health Care professionals, the OHD will be able to create support programmes
that offer employees education and guidance regarding the structure and function of the
musculoskeletal system, the treatments available for disorders of the system and the effective
clinical management of common musculoskeletal disorders. The company’s management team hope
that this initiative will reduce absences by expediting employees return to work in the shortest
possible time. My role is to carry out research in order to produce information that will be used to
educate the employees.
Introduction of the skeletons:
Your body is surrounded by your skeleton. In addition to maintaining its shape and enabling
movement, it shields your internal organs. There are 206 bones in the human body. Skeletons come
in two different forms: appendicular and axial. 80 of the 206 bones make up the axial skeleton,
which is primarily made up of the bones around your back, ribs, and head. These bones give these
bodily components support and shape.
The remaining 126 bones in the body are found in the appendicular skeleton, which also includes the
arms and legs and all surrounding bones, as well as the shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle and its
surrounding parts. Because the appendicular skeleton contains the primary movement limbs, such
as the shoulders, arms, pelvis and legs, it allows the body to perform movement the primary
purpose of allowing movement throughout the body.
Diagram:
This is a musculoskeletal system in a healthy body
,Reference: Clasoos Book 1 page 290
Functions of the musculoskeletal system:
Structure Functions
Tendons Tendons connect muscles to bones, when muscles contract tendons pull on
bone causing movement and allowing us to perform tasks.
Ligaments Ligaments connect bones to other bones and provide stability to our joints
and allow movement of joints as freely as needed
Skeleton The skeleton has so many functions such as protection- it protects so many
of our internal organs such as brain and spinal cord, attachment for skeletal
muscles- allows skeletal muscles to attach to different parts of the skeleton.
Support- helps us stand upright without any effects like compression of any
organs. Movement- allows areas for skeletal muscles to attach and joints
and tendons allow movement.
Skeletal muscles The main function is movement- skeletal muscles are normally in a pair so
one will relax and the other will contract and this allows our movement.
Axial skeleton:
I briefly mentioned that the axial skeleton contained the bones around the head, back and ribs and
they do this to provide support and protection for these areas as these are quite important parts of
our body. If we look at this more specifically into the bones of the head we have: Cranium, mandible
and maxilla.
Cranium:
The cranium is a part of the skull, not another name of the skull it refers to the upper part of the
skull and consists of 22 bones. It is very important as it protects our brain and the upper part of the
skull as well as providing structure to the shape of our head
, Mandible:
The mandible is also linked to the skull like the cranium but is found in our jaw specifically the lower
jaw region and it is the biggest facial bone. The mandible is able to move so it assists in tasks such as
speaking, producing facial expressions and laughing. One of its most important functions is chewing
as it contains the lower teeth, and it assists with the digestive system with mechanical digestion.
Maxilla:
The maxilla is also related to the skull like the cranium and mandible as well as being linked to
mandible as it is part of the jaw region too but more specifically the upper jaw region. It contains the
nasal region, some parts of the cheek and the upper teeth region. Like the mandible it helps with
chewing and mechanical digestion of food as well as providing structure to the nasal region, upper
jaw and cheek and taking care of the teeth.
Cervical:
The cervical vertebrae are composed of 2 sections and within these 2 sections there is overall 7
bones/vertebrates which are C1 all the way to C7. The two most important vertebrate are the first
two- C1 is known as the atlas and C2 is known as the axis. C1 begins from the skull and C7 is at the
shoulders, overall, this vertebra focuses on the upper regions of the body. Due to the location of the
vertebrae beginning from the skull it assists with the stability of the mass of the head and in turn
allows for the movement of the head. In doing so with the stability of the head it also alleviates the
pressure on spine.
Thoracic:
The thoracic vertebrae are the next part of the spine, it focuses on the middle area of the spinal
region and body. It consists of 12 vertebrates so from C8 to C20, the vertebrates this time are all
followed by intervertebral discs each. These vertebrates are average sized and has a curved outline.
Due to containing intervertebral discs this allows more support to the vertebrae and spinal cord as a
whole and allows the thoracic vertebrae to carry its weight comfortably without harming the rest of
the body and providing protection to the body like the ribs and spinal cord. As well as the support
and protection of the body due to having lots of vertebrates and discs it allows muscles to join on
and join together easily.
Lumbar vertebrae:
The lumbar vertebrae focuses on the lower half of the spine, it is composed of the vertebrates L1 to
L5, these vertebrates have the ability to shift around which is something that is quite unique to the
lumbar region as the other vertebrates are in a fixed position. The lumbar vertebrate is bean shaped
and is substantially larger than the other vertebrates discussed. Overall, it delivers support to
majority of the back and spinal cord as well as holding up pretty much all of body weight. It also
allows movement of the lower back easily due to the moveable vertebrates and allows muscles to
join to it as well as ligaments too.
Sacrum:
