Musculoskeletal system

Mobility and independence

GEY 3601-001
Fall 2003
Instructor: Ross Andel, Ph.D.

PART I: Skeletal system

Components:
- Bone
- Joints
- Cartilage
- Ligaments
- Tendons

Function:
- Support body organs
- Protect brain, heart, lungs
- Movement (with muscles)
- Storage
- Blood cell formation

Skeleton
Axial
- skull, spinal column,
thorax
Appendicular
- Arms, legs,
shoulders, hips

Spine
Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar
Sacrum
Tail bone

Bone
Compact (hard/dense)
Spongy (cancellous)
Marrow (cavities)

Age-related changes in the skeletal

system
Gradual loss of calcium (bone density)
About 2-4% a year, accelerated by inactivity

Changes in
cartilage

Disorders of the skeletal system

Osteoporosis

Risk factors for osteoporosis

Prevention of osteoporosis
as well as other disorders of the skeleton

Arthritis

1. Osteoarthritis 2. rheumatoid arthritis 3. goit

Osteoarthritis
(degenerative joint disease)
Most common form of arthritis
Potential causes obesity, trauma, diabetes,
joint or immune system disorders
Symptoms joint pain, stiffness,
inflammation
Treatment non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections,
arthroscopic surgery

Osteoarthritis
(degenerative joint disease)

Rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune/genetic disorder
Can involve more than just joints
Symptoms inflammation, thickening
of the joint capsule stiffness
Treatment NSAIDs, corticosteroid
injections

Rheumatoid arthritis

Gout
Metabolic disease
of the kidneys, uric
acid accumulation
Symptoms
inflammation, pain
Treatment
NSAIDs

Pagets disease
Metabolic bone disease
bone destruction and abnormal
re-growth
deformity

PART II: Muscles of the body

Skeletal

Smooth
Cardiac

Skeletal muscles
Voluntary, attached to the skeleton
Functions:
- Movement
- Posture
- Heat production
- Excitability
- Ability to contract/extend
- Elasticity

Smooth muscles
E.g. digestive system, blood vessels
Slow sustained, rhythmical
Role sustain essential bodily
functions
Movement of materials/fluids through
and out of the body

Cardiac muscle
Resembles a
smooth muscle
Own pacemaker +
autonomic nervous
system (mostly
involuntary)
About 2.5 billion
contractions in a
normal lifetime

Age-related changes
Skeletal muscles:
- Reduced muscle strength and mass
- Reduction in strength of contractions
Smooth/cardiac muscles:
- Loss of elasticity
- Loss of muscle strength

Spinal alignment problems

Common in adolescents as well as
older adults
Can be related to osteoporosis in the
spine, muscle dystrophy
Leads to discomfort, back pain
Treatment exercise, surgery

Scoliosis
A lateral (away from the middle) or sideways
curvature of the spine

Dorsal kyphosis
Extreme curving of the dorsal spine, leads a
slouching posture

Lordosis
increased curvature of the lumbar spine

Muscle disorders
Muscle cramps
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
Bursitis
Myalgia

Preserving health of muscles

Strength training
Cardiovascular

exercise
Stretching
Healthy diet
Control weight
Avoid smoking