Unit 8: Musculoskeletal Disorders
Introduction:
In this assignment I will talk about the musculoskeletal system and a few disorders that could
occur to joints, muscles and bones. I will also be assessing the treatments for these
disorders and their effectiveness in many different categories such as the method of
treatment, cost, strengths, weaknesses and how effective they are.
Musculoskeletal System:
The musculoskeletal system is composed of 6 things. They are known
as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bones. Their
purpose is to give protection to the organs and support the entire body.
The human skeleton includes very crucial bones that have many
benefits. They carry generations of blood cells and store numerous
minerals such as calcium or iron. Fat can also be found in the centre of
the bones as a secondary source of energy. Another feature that bones
have are bone marrow cells that can be used as medical treatments for
the host of the body or another patient of identical needs. As mentioned
before, the skeleton provides protection to the organs such as the
heart, brain, lungs, spinal cord.
The skeleton is separated into 2 sections:
● Axial Skeleton (the middle of the body)
● Appendicular Skeleton (outside of the body)
Bones:
There are many different types of bones and they can be categorised as long, short, flat or
irregular.
Long Bones:
Long bones are tough and sturdy bones that are needed to provide strength, structure,
mobility and protection for the body. They’re also needed to support the weight of the body.
An example of a long bone is the femur that is located within a human thigh. Femurs contain
red and yellow bone marrow which produce blood cells. Long bones are mostly located in
the appendicular skeleton.
Structure of Long Bones:
Long bones consist of 2 parts known as the epiphysis and diaphysis. The epiphysis is the
round end of the long bone and is composed of cancellous bone and then covered by a layer
of compact bone.The function of the epiphysis is to connect adjacent bones to form joints.
The diaphysis is the shaft that runs through the top and bottom of the bone. The diaphysis
consists of a hollow region known as the medullary cavity which consists of yellow marrow.
The yellow marrow is a secondary source of energy for the body. The diaphysis has walls
that are made of a very tough compact bone. At the top of the epiphysis is where red marrow
can be found in the spongy bone. Haematopoiesis is the blood cell production that happens
in the bone after birth. The stem cells produced from haematopoiesis can be used to
develop in different varieties of blood cells. As you grow up, haematopoiesis is confined to
the ribs, sternum, pelvis, skull and vertebrae. Later, the yellow marrow, which is composed of
, fat cells, replaces the red marrow and reduces its potential for haematopoiesis. There is one
more section in long bones called the metaphysis. The metaphysis is the region where the
diaphysis and epiphysis meet.
Furthermore, bones contain some amount of cells known as osteocytes and osteoblasts.
The osteoblast cells are responsible for synthesising new bone. Osteoblasts secrete
collagen and calcium salts so they would be able to surround the osteoblast. As the
osteoblast becomes trapped, the structure of it changes and results in becoming an
osteocyte. Osteocytes are responsible for maturing the new bone.
Short Bones:
Short bones are cube-shaped bones that make up the carpals and the tarsals that are
located in the ankle joints and wrists. The short bones mainly provide support and slight
movement wherever they’re present.
Irregular Bones:
Irregular bones is a category for bones that have various sizes and shapes that do not fall in
line with the other categories. Irregular bones also give protection to internal organs. For
example, the irregular shape of the vertebrae protects the spinal cord from any impact or
damage.
Flat Bones:
Flat bones can be found in the skull, rib cage, pelvis or other regions to provide protection.
Flat bones are flattened so that they can provide large attachment areas for muscles.
Bone Disorder - Osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis is a health condition that causes bones to weaken and become brittle. This
makes the individual become fragile as their bones can get damaged or fractured due to
even the simplest of movements or reactions such as a cough or sneeze. Osteoporosis is
not typically painful until a bone is broken. The bone that is often broken due to osteoporosis
is the spine.
Osteoporosis is a natural occurrence when our bones age as they begin to become weaker.
Due to this, the vertebrae in the spine would also become narrow and flat which could result
in the individual developing a hump or a bent-forward looking spine also known as
dowager’s hump. Moreover, brittle vertebrae have a higher risk of getting fractured which
could occur if an excess amount of pressure is placed upon a weakened vertebrae. This
consequence is most likely due to a fall however, it can also occur from simple movements
such as coughing, sneezing, reaching and more.
Furthermore, osteoporosis can limit or permanently disable any sort of physical activity
which would have a negative impact on your health. For example, you could experience
severe weight gain or stress on your bones. Weight gain could also increase the risk of
developing other health risks such as heart disease or diabetes. These unfortunate
consequences would also have a negative impact on mental health as the patient may fall
into anxiety for fear of falling or fracturing a bone. Depression, loneliness and dementia
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