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BTEC Applied Science: Unit 8 Learning Aim A (Musculoskeletal System)
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This is the BTEC Applied Science Unit 8 Learning Aim A on the musculoskeletal system. I was awarded a DISTINCTION for this assignment
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Higher NationalsIntroduction
In this assignment, my focus will be on providing an explanation of the musculoskeletal
system's structure and its overall function. Additionally, I will be discussing health
concerns which are associated with the musculoskeletal system. Furthermore, I will
evaluate the effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages of various corrective
measures and treatments recommended by medical experts for addressing those
musculoskeletal disorders.
Structure of the musculoskeletal system
Skeletal system (Cleveland Clinic, 2024)
The skeletal system is made up of:
Bones – people have around 206 to 213 bones in their body, these bones
help protect our organs as well as structural support.
Cartilage – cartilage is a flexible and strong tissue which acts as a shock
absorber in joints throughout the whole of our body.
Joints – this is where two bones meet.
Muscles – muscles are made out of fivers. In our body we have more than
six hundred muscles which help you do things such running and walking,
as well as breathing.
Ligaments – these are bands of tissues which connects bones to bones.
Tendons – these are cords which connects muscles to bones
The skeletal system plays a fundamental role in providing the body a structure as well as
maintaining the position of our organs. To put it simply, the skeletal system can be
described as the crucial support structure of our body. The skeletal system has multiple
jobs which include:
Helping us move – our joints as well as connective tissues and muscles
work together to pull and push all the parts of our body every time we
move.
Protecting our organs – the bones protect all of our organs. The skull
protects our brain, while the ribs protect our lungs and heart.
Giving our body its shape – the skeleton supports our body’s weight.
Producing blood cells – the bone marrow which is found at the centre of
some of our bones produces new blood cells that our body needs to stay
healthy. It produces both white and red blood cells.
Storing minerals – our bones hold the body’s supply of minerals such as
vitamin D and calcium.
Maintaining mineral homeostasis – When the concentration of minerals in
the bloodstream becomes excessive, bones have the ability to absorb
some of these minerals and store them as mineral salts. This process
contributes to the hardness and strength of our bones. On the other hand,
when the levels of minerals in the blood are low, bones release those
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stored minerals back into the bloodstream. This mechanism helps restore
a balance, or homeostasis, of mineral levels in the body. (Biology
LibreTexts, 2021)
Axial skeleton
The axial skeleton is made up of around eighty bones, and it has made up of five parts
including the bones in our cranium, vertebra column, thoracic, and our sternum. These
bones serve as a protection for our brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs, as well as other
important organs. (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.)
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Cranium
The cranium has multiple bones including the frontal lobe, parietal bones, one right and
one left), temporal bones, one right and one left), occipital bone, sphenoid bone, and
ethmoid bone. (Biology LibreTexts, 2021)
The main job of the cranium is to keep our brain safe. It is like a hard shell that covers
and protects the brain, which is made up of different parts like the cerebrum, cerebellum,
and brain stem. The cranium also gives a place for the muscles of our face to attach to.
The cranium does not move or do anything else. It helps form the front part of our
skeleton and holds some of the sensory organs under the facial bones. The cranium
includes bones like the frontal bone, temporal bones, sphenoid bone, parietal bones, and
occipital bone. It forms the structure of our head and supports the shape of our face. The
cranium has openings where the cranial nerves come out, these nerves are important for
everyday things like seeing, smelling, and eating. For example, the hypoglossal nerve
helps control the movement of our tongue so we can talk and chew. (BYJUS, 2022)
Mandible
The mandible, which is the biggest and strongest bone in our face, is situated at the
bottom of the facial skeleton. It creates the lower part of our jaw and holds the lower
teeth. It also connects with the temporal bone on each side, forming what is known as
the temporomandibular joint. (Emin, 2022) This bone is made up of two different parts
called the body and the ramus. (Khorsandi, 2022) The mandible helps us to move our jaw
for activities such as chewing and speaking, and it works together with various muscles
to accomplish these actions. (Khorsandi, 2022)
Maxilla
The maxilla is the bone which is responsible for creating the upper part of our jaw. It
consists of two halves, one on the right side and another one on the left side. These
halves have irregular shapes and come together in the middle of the skull, just below our
nose, in a place called the intermaxillary structure. This bone is a major bone of the face
and is also part of three different structures of our skull, these include: the upper
jawbone, the bottom part of the eye socket, and the sides and bottom side of our nasal
cavities and sinus.
The maxilla is also fused together with different bones within our skull, these include: the
frontal bones which connects with the bones in our nose, the zygotic bones also known
as cheekbones, the palatine bones which contribute to the composition of the hard
palate, the nasal bone which forms the structure of the bridge of our nose, the dental
alveoli which are bones that support our tooth sockets, and the nasal septum.
The maxilla has connections with numerous facial muscles both in its inner and outer
surfaces. These muscles play essential roles in various functions such as chewing,
smiling, frowning, and other facial expressions. Some of these muscles include:
buccinator, zygomaticus and masseter.
This bone has multiples functions such as holding the top of our teeth in their respective
place, making our skull more lightweight, and increasing both the depth and volume of
our voices. (Marcin, 2018)
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Cervical vertebrae
The cervical vertebrae refers to the part of our spine that corresponds to the neck region.
This area is made up of seven individual bones called vertebras. The first two vertebrae
in the cervical region have distinct shapes and functions. The first vertebra, known as the
atlas or C1, is ring-shaped and sits at the base of our skull. The second vertebra, called
the axis or C2, enables the atlas to pivot against it, allowing for side-to-side rotation of
our head. These vertebrae are interconnected at
the back by facet joints, which are a type of joint.
These facet joints facilitate various movements
of our neck, including forward and backward
bending as well as twisting motions.
The cervical vertebrae serves multiple important
functions. Firstly, they provide protection for our
spinal cord, ensuring its safety. Additionally, they
play a crucial role in supporting and enabling
movement of our head. Moreover, the cervical
vertebrae creates a secure pathway for the
vertebral arteries, which supply blood to the
brain. (Cleveland Clinic, 2022)
Thoracic vertebrae
The thoracic vertebrae, located in the middle
part of our back, extends from the base of our
neck down to the bottom of our ribs. It consists
of a series of twelve individual bones known as
vertebrae, labelled T1 to T12. Vertebrae are the
interconnected bones that make up the spinal
column, totalling thirty-three in number. These
bones serve the purpose of safeguarding the
spinal cord from harm and enabling various
movements, such as twisting and turning. The
spaces between the vertebral bones are filled
with intervertebral discs, which provide
cushioning and flexibility to the vertebrae.
Surrounding the thoracic spine are muscles,
nerves, tendons, and ligaments that contribute
to its mobility and flexibility. Running through the
centre of the entire spine is the spinal cord,
which acts as a communication pathway
between the brain and the rest of the body. The thoracic vertebrae plays several
important roles, including protecting the spinal cord and its branching spinal nerves,
supporting the chest and abdomen, and providing attachment points for the ribs.
(Cleveland Clinic, 2022)
Lumbar vertebrae
The lumbar vertebrae, which is located in our lower back, comprises five bones known as
vertebrae. These vertebrae, labelled as L1 to L5, are the largest in size among all the
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