Paul’s Assignment
Key:
Blue = key info
Objective
Describe the structures of the skeletal system, describe classifications and characteristics of joints,
identify types of synovial joints and describe types of joint movements.
Scenario
A local school has taken you on a work placement to assist in the delivery of GCSE PE. The teacher has
asked you to prepare some lesson material for the anatomy module for the “more gifted” pupils in the
group. The materials should include Information on the skeleton and joints.
Tasks:
1. Describe the structure and function of the skeletal system.
2. Show an understanding of the structure of joints by including a labeled diagram of each
classification of joint with a brief explanation of each of the features.
3. Produce a table that gives an example of each type of joint (including all the synovial joints) and
all the possible movements at each of those joints. Use diagrams to support your table.
Task 1- Functions of the Skelton & structure
Protection
The skeleton has several functions that go alongside the structure; Protection is one this is where your
body will protect the organs with things such as bone, if we did not have protection our vital organs
could become damaged and there is a greater chance of being seriously injured. An example of this is
the cranium protects your brain, your heart and lungs are protected by your thorax (ribs).
Attachment and support
Attachment is another function of the skeleton it holds our body and organs together we are attached
by tendons that connect muscle to bone providing leverage, this is kind of like a lever it helps us to do
simple things such as walking, running, jumping, etc. Ligaments that connect the muscles together. The
skeleton needs support as it keeps our organs in place, gives you shape and gives you the correct
structure for your soft tissues, your bones work as a collective for this. If you do not have support, you
will not be able to keep your shape or be able to move or make blood cells.
Blood cell production
Blood cell production is an important as your red blood cells die every minute so the bone marrow in the
centre of your produces red and white blood cells to keep the number of blood cells up so you can carry
things like oxygen around your body.
, Mineral storage
One more function of the skeleton is mineral storage, our bones contain minerals such as phosphorus
and calcium, which are important for the growth and maintenance of our bones. These minerals are also
released and stored in our blood so we can balance the minerals in our body. Our bones grow all the
time the bone marrow in our bones create osteoblasts that are useful for recreating cells and making
new ones, calcium binds to this. the new cells made are called osteoclasts, which are hard compact
bones, the osteoclasts also maintain our bones. when the cartilage stops the releasing cells then growth
plates close and we grow no longer.
Factors against bone growth
Some factors that affect bone formation could be maturation, this is the process of maturing for
example the menstrual cycle and hair growth. Another affect could be load bearing exercise, you do not
want to be doing hight impact load bearing exercises after breaking your bone because it could happen
again in the same place or if it is too strong in another place. A disease could affect your bone growth as
you could have disease such as bone cancer, osteoporosis and even rheumatoid arthritis (painful
swelling of the joints). Scoliosis is also another disease that effects the spine so that instead of having
the normal shape it curves to the side and this can cause great back pain, and some must have surgery
or use things such as braces to try straightening the spine. There is another disease that affects the spine
that is called rheumatoid this where your joints swell causing pain and lack of movement this could also
be known as arthritis.
Types of bones
Every person Is made up of bone that protect, support, attach, store minerals and is responsible for
blood cell production. there are several types of bones in our body there are long bones, short bones,
irregular bones, sesamoid and flat bones. All these bones have different functions such as protection,
mineral storage. The femur it is the largest bone in the body and is useful for mineral storage it is a long
bone. A short bone is made up of a thin layer of compact bone encasing a spongy bone. A flat bone has
broad side so this can help with muscle attachment and is also used for protection of our vital organs, an
irregular bone is to serve a specific purpose protection, support and attachment. Finally, a sesamoid
bone is a floating bone imbedded that could be around a joint or a bone such as the patella and there
are no ligaments.
Bones and the upper half of the body
There are 206 bones in our body that work together to do those functions. Alongside the bones there
are also ligaments and cartilage. At the top of our skeleton there Is our head mainly known as our
cranium a flat bone, there are 14 bones in the face, 8 bones in our cranium these all contribute to
protecting the brain as well as the mandible (the jaw). Now going down the skeleton to the collarbone,
formally known as the clavicle this gives a well-built attachment for the arms. The scapula is found at the
posterior side of the shoulder girdle, known as the shoulder blades. Our ribs are situated at our chest,
they protect our heart and lungs. The ribs are made up of 12 pairs of long, flat bones that form to make
a cage of the thorax. The first 7 pairs of the ribs are connected to the sternum commonly known as the
‘true ribs’, whereas the remaining 5 pairs are commonly known as ‘false ribs’ as they do not connect to
the sternum. In the arm there are 3 bones in the arm at the top is the humerus, this is a long bone and is