Basic Anatomy
The human body is a complex series of systems
including the neurologic, circulatory, reproductive, respiratory,
and digestive with their
accompanying organs all packaged into a
Musculoskeletal System, which is our point of focus.
The human Musculoskeletal System contains:
- The
Skeleton, which is the infrastructure of the body, is made
up of
a series of bones. Its functions are to support the body, and to
provide protection for the important organs of the body
including the brain, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and so forth.
-
Muscles, which are the fibrous elastic tissues which move
the bones. Strains, which are the stretching or tearing of the
muscle, are common athletic injuries.
- Tendons, which are the fibrous elastic
tissues which attach muscle to bone.
- Ligaments,
which are bands of tough tissue connecting bones together at
joints. Sprains to ligaments are the most common joint injury
suffered by athletes. Sprains occur when a tendon is stretched
or torn at a joint.
- Cartilage, which is a gristly tissue which
is generally found on the end of bones. Cartilage serves to
reduce the friction between two bones rubbing against each other
and also helps absorb the shock of bone ends striking each
other.
- Bursae,
which are small, fluid filled sacs which may be located between
bones, muscles, tendons or other tissue.
Their function is to assist in the reduction of
friction between the tissues.
- Joints, which, as indicated by their very
name, are the locations where bones meet. They allow the body to
be mobile. Joints are made up of ligaments, tendons, cartilage
and bursae.
|


 |