Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Skeletal and Muscular Systems:

The human body is made of several parts and systems that perform various functions to sustain an individual's life. The skeletal and muscular systems are examples of important systems in the body with various functions. The skeletal system can be described as the body framework on which the human body is built (Turley, 2011). This system is made of 206 bones in addition to ligaments and cartilage in order to provide structural support for the body. This system is also known as the skeletomuscular or musculoskeletal system since it works with the muscular system to sustain body posture, generate movement, and protect the major organs of the body. The various bones that form the skeletal system are divided into various categories including axial skeleton and appendicular skeleton.

In contrast, the muscular system provides movements to the bony framework of the body and is made of nearly 700 skeletal muscles in addition to tendons and other structures of the muscular system (Turley, 2011). While some skeletal muscles are readily visible on the body surface, others are located more deeply in the body. Similar to the skeletal system, the muscular system is also referred to as the musculoskeletal system since bones would be unable to move without the muscles while the muscles would lack support without the bones. This implies that the effective functioning of bones and muscles in the body is dependent on the other. Notably, all the muscles in the human body are commonly known as the musculature and are divided into skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles.

As important parts of systems of the body, the skeletal and muscular systems work together to ensure effective functioning of the body and to sustain life. These systems work together on the premise that skeletal muscles are attached to bones by tendons that use the bones as levers for body movements and movements of body parts. As the muscles increase in size, the bones must also get bigger in order to support the bigger muscles. The failure in increase of the size of muscles could contribute to breakage or collapse of bones (Washington, 2010). Notably, the blood needs calcium so that the nervous system can send signals, for blood to clot, and for contraction of muscles for movement. In essence, the muscles in the body link with the nervous system and permit initiation of movement through nerve signals that are sent to and from the brain. Notably, the skeletal muscles are connected to the bones and work with the connective tissue in various joints in the body to enable body movements. The connective tissue plays a crucial role in structural support for the body.

Given that the skeletal systems and the muscular systems support each other and are inter-linked, an injury to either of the systems has an instant impact on the other. Moreover, an imbalance or weakness in any component of each of the systems not only produces a strain or injury to the connective tissue but can also result in damages to the bone. Such direct damages to the bone affect body movements and sustenance of life because of their impact on the effective functioning of the skeletal and muscular systems. Similarly, torn or strained muscles can contribute to imbalances within or weaknesses on the muscle and eventually exert additional strain on the connective tissue in attempt to compensate for the problem. The resultant torn or strained connective tissue can in turn cause imbalances in the muscle and cause significant changes in the joint structure, which is likely to lead to arthritis.