General Anatomy
Locomotor System
:
The locomotor systems are those which enable a person to move about, change
position, hold articles and handle tools.
They are:
•
The Skeletal System of bones and Joints
•
The Muscular System
•
The Nervous System
The Skeletal System
The Skeletal System is
formed of the bones
of the skeleton, symmetrically arranged. It
is divided into:
•
Appendicular skeleton
, comprises the
bones of the upper limb and shoulder
girdle clavicle and scapula and the
lower
limb pelvic girdle
• The
Axial skeleton,
comprising bones of
the trunk and head.
The skeleton has the following
functions:
• It forms the framework of the body
• It is arranged to give protection to
vulnerable tissues, e.g brain, lungs,
heart, spinal cord
• It gives attachment for muscles which
bring about movement or maintain
posture.
• It takes part in the formation of joints
• It supports and maintains posture of the
body
• It is concerned with the use of the
calcium in the body and formation of
various blood cells
General Anatomy
Bone is
formed of protein substances,
33% of which is
collagen and minerals
and salts, primarily calcium phosphate
and carbonate, which together make it both
strong and resilient. Bone integrity is
Maintained by bone cells, osteoblasts or
Bone builders and osteoclasts bone consumers.
It is a balance between osteoblastic and
osteoclastic activity that ensures healthy strong
bone. The surface layer, or
compact bone, is
smooth and rigid and gives the individual bone its
strength.
