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๐ฌ Think about it
Stand up, walk, sit straight — your bones and muscles work as one team to do it. Muscles pull, bones move, and joints let it all happen. Let us see how this system is built.
What is the musculoskeletal system?
- It is made of bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, tendons and ligaments.
- It helps us stand, move, keep posture and protect organs.
- It works under the control of the nervous system.
- Muscles pull on bones through tendons to cause movement at a joint.
How Movement Happens
Muscle contracts
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Tendon pulls
It transmits the force to the bone.
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Bone moves at a joint
In this Activity, we will estimate what percentage of our total body weight comes from bones and muscles.
Procedure
1. Step on a weighing scale and record your total body weight.
2. Use health resources to find the average bone and muscle mass percentage for your age and gender (for example, adult males have about 40–50 per cent muscle, adult females about 30–40 per cent, and bone is about 12–15 per cent for all adults).
3. Multiply your body weight by the bone and muscle percentages to estimate their weights.
4. Record the estimated bone weight and muscle weight and compare them with your total body weight.
5. Compare your findings with classmates and calculate the class average.
2. Use health resources to find the average bone and muscle mass percentage for your age and gender (for example, adult males have about 40–50 per cent muscle, adult females about 30–40 per cent, and bone is about 12–15 per cent for all adults).
3. Multiply your body weight by the bone and muscle percentages to estimate their weights.
4. Record the estimated bone weight and muscle weight and compare them with your total body weight.
5. Compare your findings with classmates and calculate the class average.
Discussion
Discuss why bone and muscle mass differ between individuals, and how they add to overall body weight.
โ Summary
- Weigh yourself.
- Find bone and muscle percentages.
- Estimate their weights.
- Compare with classmates.
Important Points
- The musculoskeletal system is made of bones, muscles and joints with cartilage, tendons and ligaments.
- It supports the body, allows movement and protects organs.
- Muscles pull on bones through tendons to move a joint.
โ Test Yourself
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What is the musculoskeletal system made of?
View Answer
Bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. -
Which system controls the musculoskeletal system?
View Answer
The nervous system. -
How do muscles move bones?
View Answer
They pull on bones through tendons, moving a joint. -
About what fraction of body weight is the skeleton?
View Answer
About 12–15 per cent.
Important Definitions
- Musculoskeletal system — the system of bones, muscles and joints that supports and moves the body.
