Skeletal muscle has several key functional anatomy characteristics. It attaches to bones via tendons and crosses joints, allowing bones to act as levers and produce movement when muscles contract. Muscles are attached to both sides of joints and work antagonistically in pairs - when one muscle contracts to move a bone in one direction, its counterpart relaxes to allow the motion. Together, the coordinated actions of muscles pulling on bones via tendons enable the skeleton to produce a wide range of movements.

1. Characteristics
of skeletal
muscle
FUNCTIONAL
ANATOMY

2. THINGS TO REMEMBER
 Use these slides as a study guide
 If you are unsure ask questions???
 Use these slides and SEQTA resources to catch up on any missed
work
 Use text-books & websites for additional information that you may
have missed in class.
 Flashcards and revision sheets are good
 Study book (write sample test/exam questions out by hand)

3. FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY – WHAT IS THAT?
 Very important to know
 Anatomy - the branch of science concerned with the
bodily structure of humans
 Physiology - the branch of biology that deals with the
normal functions of living organisms and their parts. We
will do more of this in the Exercise Physiology Unit
 Important to use the correct terminology when
describing movement throughout this course

4. The bones of the skeleton can be classified into 2
major groups:
• The AXIAL skeleton: the bones grouped along
the midline i.e. Cranium, vertebral column, ribs
and sternum
• The APPENDICULAR skeleton: the appendages
attached to axial skeleton (all of the other bones)
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY

5. SKELETAL SYSTEM AND MOVEMENT
• Provides a framework to connect soft
tissue and muscles
• Protects brain, heart and lungs
• Red blood cell production
• Storage of major elements in bones
including calcium, sodium and
potassium
• Provides framework for movement
• Bones held together by ligaments
• Bones act as levers to help with
movement

6. SO HOW DO WE MOVE?
 Bones are LEVERS! Remember this for next year!!
 The skeleton alone can’t produce movement. The
bones in the skeleton must form joints. Muscles
are attached to bones and cross over joints.
 When a muscle contracts (more on how this
happens later) it shortens and brings the bones of
the joint closer together – producing movement.

7. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE – IN
PICTURES…

8. MUSCULAR SYSTEM

9. REVISION –DIAGRAMS
 Skeleton Diagram
 Muscle Diagram