1. GCSE Physical Education
The Skeletal System
Part 1 – The structure of the skeletal system
Objectives…
To be aware of the bones that make up the skeletal system.
To consider the particular functions that the skeletal system performs.
Part 2 – The role of the skeletal system
To be aware of how movement occurs through joints.
To consider the types of movement that are possible because of the skeletal system.

2. Functions of the skeleton
The skeleton performs many functions in the body. 1
Shape – The skeleton gives us our shape and determines our size. 2
Support – The skeleton supports muscles and organs. 3
Protection – The skeleton protects delicate parts of the body like the brain and lungs. 4
Movement – The skeleton allows us to move. Muscles are attached to the bones and move them as levers. 5
Blood cell production – blood cells are made in the bone marrow.

3. Shape and Size

4. Support The skeleton acts as a framework.
It gives the body support, enabling us to stand and walk upright.
The bones of the back and chest support internal organs and help to keep them in place.
The bones of the body are held together by ligaments.
The skeleton provides a framework for the muscles, which are attached to bones by tendons.
Can you imagine what humans would look like if they didn’t have bones to support them?

5. Movement Bones work with muscles to produce movement.
Muscles are attached to bones by tendons.
Bones have surfaces that allow for strong attachment. Tendons fuse with the tough Periosteum membrane on the outside of the bone.
Muscle
Tendon
Periosteum
Bone

6. Movement

7. Protection
Some of our body parts, such as the brain, are very delicate and need protection from external forces.
Bones can protect body parts from impacts and injuries.
The cranium protects the brain. It encloses the brain entirely in a shell of bone.
The rib cage protects the delicate organs of the chest.
cranium
Answers:
The rib cage needs to be flexible enough to allow the movements necessary for breathing.
A solid bone rib cage would be extremely heavy, making movement more difficult.
Could also point out that the organs of the chest are not quite as delicate as the brain, so solid bone protection is less necessary.
Can you think of two reasons why the rib cage has gaps in it rather than being a solid shell of bone?

8. Blood cell production
Red marrow embedded in spongy bone
Red and white blood cells and platelets are made in the bones.
The ends of long bones and some other bones including the ribs, humerus, femur and even vertebrae bones, contain red bone marrow.
This is where the blood cells are produced.
The shaft of long bones is filled with yellow bone marrow which does not produce blood cells.
Yellow bone marrow in the shaft

9. Naming bones Cranium (skull) Clavicle (collar bone)
Sternum (breast bone)
Ribs
Humerus
Ilium (part of the pelvis)
Radius
Ulna
Encourage students to learn both the common name and scientific name of each bone.
Patella (knee cap)
Femur
Tibia
Fibula

10. Naming bones HAND FOOT Scapula (shoulder blade)
Vertebral column (spine)
HAND
Carpals
Metacarpals
Encourage students to learn both the common name and scientific name of each bone.
FOOT
Tarsals
Metatarsals
Phalanges

11. Quick TEST – try to do it without looking at your notes
Naming bones

12. Classification of bones – long bones
Long bones have a long shaft.
They are responsible for a lot of movement.
Long bones include the femur, humerus, tibia, fibula, the metatarsals, metacarpals and phalanges.
Long bones contain red bone marrow for producing blood cells.
Long bone
Discuss with students the sporting functions of long bones.

13. Classification of bones – flat bones
Flat bones perform a variety of functions. These include:
protection for delicate areas, for example, the cranium protects the brain.
areas for muscle attachment.
Cranium
Discuss with students the sporting functions of flat bones.
They have a large surface area.

14. Classification of bones – short bones
Short bones are very light and very strong.
They are small and squat in shape.
The carpals in the wrist and the tarsals in the foot are examples of short bones.
carpals
Discuss with students the sporting functions of short bones.
tarsals

15. Classification of bones – irregular bones
Irregular bones are specially shaped to perform a particular function.
Examples include the patella and the vertebrae.
patella
Discuss with students the sporting functions of irregular bones.
The patella is shaped so that the quadriceps tendon slides easily over the knee joint.

16. Bones and joint movements

17. GCSE Physical Education
The Skeletal System
Part 1 – The structure of the skeletal system
Objectives…
To be aware of the bones that make up the skeletal system.
To consider the particular functions that the skeletal system performs.
Part 2 – The role of the skeletal system
To be aware of how movement occurs through joints.
To consider the types of movement that are possible because of the skeletal system.

18. Main types of Joint
Immovable – no movement allowed (bones of the cranium)
Slightly Moveable – a good example is the Joint between the vertebrae
Freely moveable – also called Synovial
Ball and Socket
Hinge
Pivot
Gliding
Saddle
Condyloid

19. Movement

20. Movement Our joints allow us to move in a number of different ways
Flexion – the decrease of an angle between two bones at a joint (bending a limb)
Eg. ‘Flexing’ your arm when doing a bicep curl in the gym
Extension – The increase of an angle between two bones at a joint (straightening a limb)
Eg. At the point of contact with a football the leg is extended
Abduction – taking a limb away from the centre line of the body
Eg. When stepping out to play a shot in badminton the leg is abducted
Adduction – Bringing a limb back in towards the centre line of the body
Eg. When hitting a forehand tennis stroke, after contact the arms comes back to the centre line of the body
Rotation – where a bone turn on its axis
Eg. When turning the head to look sideways the pivot joint in the neck is allowing rotation

21. Ball and Socket Joint – such as the hip
Movement allowed
Flexion
Extension
Rotation
Adduction
Abduction

22. Hinge Joint – such as the elbow
Movement allowed
Flexion and Extension only
Elbow

23. Pivot Joint – such as the neck
Allows rotation only
Is found in the neck where the atlas and axis work to allow to turn our heads

24. Gliding Joint – such as the bones in the hand
These joints glide across each other to allow slight flexion, extension, adduction, abduction
Gliding joints have flattened or curved faces.
Good examples are the carpal and tarsal bones in the wrist and foot

25. Saddle Joint – such as the thumb
These joints have one surface that is convex and the other is concave.
These joints allow flexion, extension, adduction, abduction but no rotation

26. Condyloid Joint – such as the wrist
These joints appear as a ‘shallow saddle’
These joints allow flexion, extension, adduction, abduction

27. Tendons
The role of a tendon is to attach muscle to bone so that when a muscle contracts it moves the bones

28. Ligaments and Cartilage
Attach bone to bone
Tough fibrous straps
They provide stability to the joint
They help to prevent injury
Cartilage
Found between the ends of bones
Smooth shiny surface
Prevents friction
Protects bone surface