Musculoskeletal isn’t the easiest word to say, is it? (Try mus-kyo-lo-skel-e-tal.) 😉
Literally translated is means relating to the muscles and skeleton. But you could probably guess that, right? And it’s the basis of us being able to move. Let’s break it down…
The Skeleton
The Skeleton is the hard part of our body. It’s made of lots of bones - 210 at my count (although, it seems many sources count the pelvis as just 2 bones, when in fact each side is 3 fused bones).
Joints are formed where 2 bones meet. And these can be mobile or become fused as our body matures. We are ‘skeletally mature’ in our early 20s.
The outside of bones are very sensitive. So, to allow unhindered movement of the moveable joints, the ends of the bones are covered in cartilage. This smooth substance reduces friction and far less pain sensitive than bone.
The Muscles
Muscles are a contractile tissue. Meaning they can change their length, by pulling muscle fibres together. A little bit like a rachet.
By doing this they can then act on the hard skeletal system in order to produce movement. Generally this is done by pulling on the farther end of the bones, of a joint.
And hence, we can walk about, wave at friends and (in my usually caveman frame of mind) go out hunting for dinner.
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