6.2 – Types of Locomotion
6.2. Explain different types of locomotion with reference to environmental limitations and/or hard structure support for muscle function. |
The muscular and skeletal systems provide support to the body and allow for movement. The bones of the skeleton protect the body’s internal organs and support the weight of the body. Skeletal muscle attaches to bone via tendon. When skeletal muscle contracts it pulls the bone from the tendon attachment, allowing for movements as diverse as standing, walking, running, and grasping items. We will focus on the connection between human skeletal and muscular system with reference to other animal skeletal and muscular systems to illustrate how these two organ systems coordinate to generate locomotion.
Human skeletal system
The human skeleton is an endoskeleton that consists of 206 bones in the adult. An endoskeleton develops within the body rather than outside like the exoskeleton of insects. The skeleton has five main functions: providing support to the body, storing minerals and lipids, producing blood cells, protecting internal organs, and allowing for movement. The skeletal system in vertebrates is divided into the axial skeleton (which consists of the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage), and the appendicular skeleton (which consists of limb bones, the pectoral or shoulder girdle, and the pelvic girdle).
| Explore the human skeleton by viewing the following video with digital 3D sculpturing. |
The axial skeleton forms the central axis of the body and includes the bones of the skull, ossicles of the middle ear, hyoid bone of the throat, vertebral column, and the thoracic cage (rib cage) (Figure 6.5).
The bones of the skull support the structures of the face and protect the brain. The skull consists of cranial bones and facial bones. The cranial bones form the cranial cavity, which encloses the brain and serves as an attachment site for muscles of the head and neck. In the adult, they are tightly jointed with connective tissue and adjoining bones do not move.
The auditory ossicles of the middle ear transmit sounds from the air as vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea. Facial bones provide cavities for the sense organs (eyes, mouth, and nose), and serve as attachment points for facial muscles.
The hyoid bone lies below the mandible in the front of the neck. It acts as a movable base for the tongue and is connected to muscles of the jaw, larynx, and tongue.
The vertebral column, or spinal column, surrounds and protects the spinal cord, supports the head, and acts as an attachment point for ribs and muscles of the back and neck. It consists of 26 bones: the 24 vertebrae, the sacrum, and the coccyx. Between each vertebrae from the second cervical vertebrae to the sacrum lie cartilaginous intervertebral disks that form slightly movable joints that absorb shock to facilitate movements such as walking or running.
The thoracic cage, also known as the rib cage consists of the ribs, sternum, t