MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

Introduction:

Musculoskeletal system is a complex network that includes bones, muscles, cartilage,

tendons, ligaments, and joints. This is a system that combine skeletal system and muscular
system.

DEFINITION: Musculoskeletal system is a body system that provides structure, support,

movement, and protection.

SKELETAL TISSUES

Skeletal tissues are specialized connective tissues that form and support the skeleton of the
body. Examples are; bone tissue (osseous), cartilage, ligaments, tendons etc.

DEVELOPMENT OF SKELETAL TISSUES (BONE)

There are two main processes by which bone developed, these are as follows;

1. INTRAMEMBRANOUS OSSIFICATION: Is the direct transformation of mesenchyme

(from embryonic development) into bone. It occurs mainly in flat bones examples skull bones,
mandible, clavicle etc. This occurs through the following steps;

- mesenchymal cells differentiates into osteoblast (bone forming cells)

- osteoblasts secrete bone matrix

- now the bone matrix calcified and osteoblasts becomes osteocytes.

- bone form in sheet or plates, then eventually forming compact and spongy bones.
2. ENDOCHONDRAL OSSIFICATION: Bone develop by replacing cartilage model as in
hyalin cartilage. It occurs in long bones, e.g. femur, humerus and vertebrae. This occurs
through steps below;

- mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes

- cartilage grows, then starts to calcify in the center

- calcified cartilage invaded by blood vessels, bringing osteoblasts

- osteoblasts replaced cartilage with bone in the primary ossification center (diaphysis)

- then secondary ossification center form in the epiphyses (end of bones)

- the cartilage between the diaphysis and epiphysis becomes epiphyseal plate, which allows
bone to grow until adulthood.
STRUCTURES OF SKELETAL TISSUES

1. BONE TISSUE: Bone is a rigid and dense tissue that provide structural support.

Structures in bone are;

- Bone cells are; osteoblasts (bone forming), osteocytes (maintaining bone tissue), and
osteoclasts (breakdown bone).

- Bone matrix are organic and inorganic

* organic bone matrix: mainly are collagen fibers for flexibility

* inorganic bone matrix: calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate for hardness of bone.

- types of bone tissues: which are compact and spongy (cancellous) bone tissues

2. CARTILAGE TISSUES: Is a flexible and found in joints, ears, nose etc.

Structures in cartilage

Cartilage cells: chondroblast (immature cells) and chondrocytes (matured cells)

Types of cartilage

* Hyalin cartilage - found in joint and respiratory tract

* Elastic cartilage - is flexible found in ears, nose etc.

* Fibrous cartilage - strong and found in intervertebral disc and pubic symphysis.

COMPOSITION OF SKELETAL SYSTEM

Composition of the skeletal system consist of the following component;

- Bone

- Cartilage

- Joint

- Ligament: A dense connective tissue that connect bones to other bones and stabilize joints

- Tendons: A strong fibrous tissue that connect muscles to bones and also help in movement.

- Bone marrow: A soft tissue inside bone cavities that produce red blood cells (RBCs), white
blood cells (WBCs), and platelets by red bone marrow and store fats by yellow bone marrow.

- Periosteum: Tough outer membrane covering bones. It nourishes bone, help in repair and
growth and also form attachment site for tendons and ligaments.
 STRUCTURE OF SKELETAL SYSTEM

The skeletal system is structured to support the body and protect internal organs and also
allow movement.

The structure of skeletal system is organized into two main parts; AXIAL AND
APPENDICULAR

SKELETON.

1 AXIAL SKELETON: It forms the central axis of the body. Bones of axial skeleton are as
follows:

1. Skull bone 2. Hyoid bone 3. Auditory ossicles 4. Vertebral column 5. Ribs bone and
sternum.
2. APPENDICULAR SKELETON: This includes bones of limbs and girdle that attached to
the axial skeleton.

Bones of appendicular skeleton consist the followings;

1. Pectoral girdle which consits of scapulae and clavicles

2. Upper limbs - Arms, forearms and hands (humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, and
phalanges).

3. Pelvic girdle - hip bones (ilium, ischium, pubis).

4. Lower limbs - legs and feets (femur, tibia, fibula, patella, tarsals, matatarsals, and
phalanges)
 .

FUNCTIONS OF SKELETAL SYSTEM

1. Support: skeletal system support the body and maintain body shape

2. Protection;

- Skull - protects the brain

- Ribs - protects the heart and lungs

- Vertebrae - protects spinal nerves

- Peivis - protect lower abdominal organs

3. Movement: Bones act as levers and joint act as pivot joints.

4. Mineral storage: Bone stores calcium and phosphorus, essential for nerve functions,
muscle contractions and blood clotting, and also releases minerals into lbood when needed by
the body.

5. Blood cell production;

- Red bone marrow in certain bones (ribs, pelvis) produces red blood cells (RBCs), white
blood cells (WBCs) and platelets

6. Fats storage: As in yellow bone marrow

7. Regulation of hormone: Bone releases osteocalcin (a hormone that help in regulating blood
sugar and fats metabolism.

JOINT

Joint: Is a point where two or more bones meet in the body. Generally we have three (3) types
of joints.

1. FIBROUS JIONT: Is a type of joint where bones are connected by dense fibrous
connective tissue. These joints are generally immovable e.g skull bone jointsjoints.

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF FIBROUS JOINT

i. Bone: Two or more bones are joined directly together.

ii. Fibrous connective tissue: Bones are connected by dense connective tissue rich in collagen
fibers.

iii. No cavity: As such do not have fluid filled joint capsule.

TYPES OF FIBROUS JOINT

a. Suture: Found only in the skull, where bones are tightly bounded by minimal fibrous tissue.
E.g coronal suture.
b. Syndesmosis: Bones are connected by ligament or interosseous membrane, this allowas
slight movement. E.g distal tibiofibular joint.

c. Gomphosis: Found only between teeth and their socket in the jaw. They are connected by
periochondal ligament.

The three types of fibrous joints

2. CARTILAGINOUS JIONT: Is a type of joint where bones are connected by cartilage with
no cavity.

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF CARTILAGINOUS JOINT

i. Bone: Two bones are jioned closely together, where articulating surface is connected by
cartilage.

ii. Cartilage tissue: Which is either hyaline or fibrous cartilage.

iii. No joint cavity: So does not have fluid filled cavity.

iv. Limited movement

TYPES OF CARTILAGINOUS JOINT

a. Primary cartilaginous joint (synchondrosis): Where bones are joined by hyalin cartilage
and usually immovable. E.g epiphyseal plate in long bones, first sternocostal joint.

b. Secondary cartilaginous joint (symphysis) : Bones are united by fibrocartilage, which is

slightly movable. E.g intervertebral disc, pubic symphysis.
A - primary cartilaginous jonit B- Secondary cartilaginous joint

3. SYNOVIAL JOINT: Is the movable and complex type of joint. It allows free movement
between bones.
 STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF SYNOVIAL JOINT

i. Articular (hyalin) cartilage: covers the ends of bones, its smooth and slippery which
reduces friction and absorbed shock.

ii. Jiont cavity: Filled with synovial fluid to lubricates and nourish the joints.

iii. Articular capsule: Has two layers, the outer (tough and flexible that provide strength) and
inner synovial that secrete synovial fluid.

iv. Synovial fluid: Lubricates jiont, reduces friction and nourish the cartilage.

v. Ligament: Reinforced joint.

vi. Articular disc: Help in distributing load e.g kenee joint.

vii. Tendon sheet and bursae: Which surround the tendons and reduces friction respectively.

TYPES OF SYNOVIAL JOINT

a. Ball and socket joint: Allows movement in all directions e.g shoulder and hip joints

b. Hinge joint: Allows mivement in one plane (flexion and extention) only e.g elbow joint,
interphalangeal joints.

c. Pivot joint: Allows rotation around a single axis e.g atlas and axis.

d. Condyloid joint: Allows movement in two plane - flexion / extention and abduction /
adduction e.g wrist joint.

e. Saddle joint: Allows movement in two planes, , with greater range e.g carpometacarpal
joint of the thumb.

f. Plane (gliding) joint: Allows sliding or gliding movement between flat surface e.g wrist
bones.
 Types of syonvial joints

MUSCLE TISSUES

Muscle tissue are tissues in the body responsible for movement, posture, maintainence and
heat gerationn. Muscle tissues are made up of muscle cells called MUSCLE FIBERS, that are
responsible for contraction and relaxation muscles.

There are three main types of muscle tissues in the body.

1. Skeletal muscle

2. Cardiac muscle

3. Smooth muscle
E

DEVELOPMENT OF SKELETAL MUSCLE

Skeletal muscle originated from paraxial mesoderm, it located on either side of the notochord
in the developing embryo. It divides into somites.

- Somites alongside the neural tube differentiates into dermatomes, scleretomes and
myotomes.

- Myotomes give rise to myoblast (muscle forming cells)

- Myoblasts arrange and fuse to form multinucleated muscle fibers

- These muscle fibers mature into skeletal muscles.

STRUCTURE OF SKELETAL MUSCLE

Skeletal muscle has the following features structurally:

* It is multinucleated fibers: That are long and cylindrical.

* It has striations: light and dark bands due presence of myosin and actin filament

* Sarcomeres: Functional unit of muscle contraction

* Sarcolemma

* Myofibril

* Connective tissue layers: which are;

- Endomysium: Surround one single muscle fiber

- Perimysium: Surround bundles of muscle fibers

- Epimysium: Surround the entire muscle.

FUNCTIONS OF SKELETAL MUSCLE

a. Movement

b. Posture and body support

c. Protection

d. Heat production

e. Respiration (intercostal muscles)

f. Storage of nutrients (glycogen)

g. Blood circulation.
 DEVELOPMENT OF CARDIAC MUSCLE

Cardiac muscle originates from splanchnic mesoderm.

- Cells from cardiogenic region migrates and formed primitive heart tube

- These cells differentiate into cardiomyocytes

- Cardiomyocytes remain branched and connected via intercalated disc

- No fusion cells as its uninucleated

- Then heart structures are developing in different days as shown below.

STRUCTURES OF CARDIAC MUSCLE

* Striations: Due to arranged actin and myosin in sarcomere

* Intercalated disc: Connect cardiac muscle cells

* Sarcolemma (plasma membrane): carries electrical signals into the cell due presence of t-
tubules.

* Sarcoplasm (cytoplasm)

* Myofibrils: which has sarcomere that actin and myosin filaments are present.

* Endomysium: It surround each muscle fiber.

 FUNCTIONS OF CARDIAC MUSCLE

a. Pumping of blood

b. Maintenance of blood pressure

c. Coordinated contraction by intercalated disc that allow signal to pass from cell to cell.

d. Adaptability by adjusting force and rate of contraction base on body need e.g. exercise

e. Endurance and fatigue resistance which enable heart to beat continuously.

 DEVELOPMENT OF SMOOTH MUSCLE

Smooth muscle mostly originated from splanchnic nerve and some from neural crest cells e.g.
blood vessels.

- Mesodermal cells differentiate into smooth muscle cells (spindle - shaped)

- Cells are uninucleated and on fusion

- The cells organize into non- striated muscle layers.

STRUCTURE OF SMOOTH MUSCLE

* It has spindle-shaped cells

* Single central nucleus

* No striations; as actin and myosin are not arranged in sarcomeres

* Dense bodies: which anchor acting filaments.

 FUNCTIONS OF SMOOTH MUSCLE

a. Movement of substances: As in digestive, urinary, and reproductive system

b. Regulation of blood flow as in cardiovascular system

c. Control of air flow as in respiratory system

e. Emptying of hollow organs e.g. bladder (urination), rectum (defecation), and uterus
(childbirth).

f. Control of pupil and lens (vision).