Skeletal and Muscular Systems: Analysis of Movement

Analysis of Movement in the Skeletal System

The skeletal system provides the framework that supports the body and allows movement. It comprises the bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilages.
Every movement is a result of the contraction or relaxation of muscles pulling on bones, leading to joint movement.
Joints are points of connection between bones, allowing different degrees and types of movement. The type of joint influences the type and range of motion.
- Hinge joints, like the elbow and knee, permit flexion and extension along one plane, allowing a back-and-forth movement.
- Pivot joints, such as the neck, allow rotation around a single axis.
- Ball-and-socket joints, like the hip and shoulder, allow all-directional movement (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction, rotation).
Leverage in the skeletal system is crucial for movement. Bones serve as levers, with joints acting as fulcrums, to generate movement.
Moving parts of the body away from the midline is abduction and moving them towards the midline is adduction.
The process of straightening or extending a joint is known as extension and the bending process is called flexion.

The muscular system translates nerve impulses into movement, working together with the skeletal system.
Muscle contractions are responsible for the movement of joints - the contraction of a muscle will result in shortening and generate movement.
Agonists, or prime movers, are muscles that provide the major force for producing a specific movement.
Antagonists are muscles that oppose or reverse a particular movement.
Synergists act on movable joints, stabilizing them and reducing unnecessary movement.
The biceps and triceps are a classic example of agonist/antagonist muscle pairing. When the biceps flexes for elbow movement, the triceps acts as the antagonist and relaxes, and vice-versa.
Proper coordination between agonist, antagonist, and synergist muscles is essential for smooth, controlled movement.
Proprioception, or the ability to sense the body’s position, motion, and equilibrium, is also crucial for coordinated movement. This is also known as the body’s “sixth sense”.