Skeleton Function (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))

Functions of the Skeleton

• The musculoskeletal system is very diverse in its functionality

• The bones support the body, keeping us upright and all our body parts in the correct positions

• Flat bones, such as the ribs and cranium, protect vital internal organs that would otherwise be vulnerable to damage from impacts

  • High-impact sports such as rugby or boxing would cause a lot of damage if not for the protective properties of the flat bones

• The movement of the body for physical activity, with the assistance of the muscles as well as other structures such as cartilage, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue

  • Bones act as a point of attachment for the muscles that aid with movement

• The bones help to form the shape of the body, which plays a role in the physical build of athletes and their improved performance in certain sports as a result

  • People with long bones in the arms and legs have an advantage playing basketball and are more suited to playing professionally

• Bones act as a storage for minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which can be released if the body has an essential need for them

• Some bones, such as the femur, have hollow openings in the centre. These contain bone marrow

  • Bone marrow is a paste-like substance found within the hollow part of the bones

  • One of the functions of bone marrow is that it is the site of blood cell creation such as red blood cells and white blood cells

  • This is because bone marrow contains special stem cells that can divide by cell division and create blood cells. These cells are not located anywhere else in the body

  • Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body for respiration and white blood cells help to fight infection by destroying pathogens