PLUME COLLEGE
Year 12 - BTEC National Subsidiary in Sport (Development, Coaching & Fitness)
Year 13 - BTEC National Diploma in Sport (Development, Coaching & Fitness)
UNIT 1: PRINCIPLES OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN SPORT (AST)
DO NOT COPY THIS AS YOU WILL BE PLAGIARISING.
Introduction
I You are working towards your CSLA award at a Blackwater Leisure Centre. Your supervisor suggests that
the group that you are coaching would improve their skills and techniques if they had a better understanding
of the structure and function of the skeletal system and how these work to produce different amounts of
movements during physical activity. You need to produce a Word Document Booklet to explain, in a
creative way, the structure and function of the skeletal system.
Structure and Function of the Skeletal System:
1. Structure of skeletal system:
 axial skeleton – Mid line of the body (include a diagram)
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appendicular skeleton - Bones attached to the mid line of the body (include a diagram)
2. Types of bone:
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long bones - description, example and picture
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short bones
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flat bones
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irregular bones
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sesamoid bones
3. Location of major bones:
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cranium - this bone is situated at the top of the body in the head. It is a flat bone and its main
function is to protect the brain from impact and therefore prevents damage and injury.
clavicle - found in the upper torso at the front of the body next to the shoulder.. It provides support
to the arm and shoulder. Also it protects important blood vessels and nerves that pass into the arm.
It also acts as a shock absorber for the upper torso and because of this it is a commonly broken
bone.
ribs – found in the middle of the torso. It is vital for protection to the lungs and heart. When the
lungs expand for breathing the ribs move to allow this to happen. It also provides structure for the
body.
Sternum: The sternum is the medical name for the breastbone, a long, narrow, flat plate that forms
the center of the front of the chest. The sternum is very strong and requires a great deal of force to
fracture. It also joins the clavicles on to its upper body.
Humerus: The humerus is the long bone of the upper arm. The bone starts from the shoulder blade
which is known as the scapula and ends at the elbow. The humerus-ulna joint and the humerusradius joint allow a person to bend the forearm up and down.
Radius – the radius is located in the forearm. It is placed on the outside of your arm (the thumb side
of your arm). It connects to your humorous bone in your elbow joint. The elbow provides rotation to
the lower arm by twisting the radius and the ulna. The radius is a long bone, and are hard and
dense to provide strength.
Ulna – the ulna is located in the forearm. It is placed on the inside of your arm ( the little finger side
of your arm). It connects to your humorous bone in your elbow joint. The elbow provides rotation to
the lower are by twisting the ulna and the radius. The ulna is a long bone, and are hard and dense
to provide strength.
Scapula - also known as the shoulder blade. The scapula forms the posterior part of the shoulder
girdle. It is a flat, triangular bone, with two surfaces, three borders, and three angles. The Scapula
is the bone that connects the humerous (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone).
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Ilium - the ilium is the largest of the three innominate bones which are located in the hip bones. It is
a large, flattened, somewhat cup-shaped bone. The Ilium is found in most vertebrates such as
mammals, reptiles (but not all snakes) and birds. It is not found in bony fish.
 Pubis - The pubis is in the middle part of the body near the hips. The function of the bone is for
movement because when a woman is given birth it moves and it gives movement around the hip
area. www.emedicine.medscape.com
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ischium - The ischium forms the lower and back part of the hip bone.
 carpals - The carpals are the short bones which form the wrist. There are 8 carpals in each wrist,
which have ligaments attached to allow free and flowing movement at the wrist.
(http://www.alientravelguide.com/science/biology/anatomy/carpals.htm (17/9/2012)).The carpals
allow the wrist to move and rotate up, down, left and right. The carpal bones are not considered
part of the hand but are part of the wrist.
 Metacarpals - The metacarpals form the structure for the back and palm of the hand. The
metacarpals are long bones in the hand that are connected to the carpals, at the wrist, and connect
from there to the phalanges.The tops of the metacarpals form the knuckles where they join to the
wrist. http://health.yahoo.net/human-body-maps/metacarpals#5/15 (17/9/2012)
 Phalanges are located in your hands and feet, they are more commonly known as your fingers and
toes. Phalanges in the foot are used to support your body and give you stability and enable you to
walk without falling or being unstable the also allow you to balance. The phalanges of the hand are
used to allow you to pick up things and generally just allow you to move your fingers.
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Femur – The Femur bone is located in between your knee and your hip. It is also the longest bone
in your body. This bone is a long bone and is used for support for our entire skeleton and helps with
the movement of our legs. It is also a very strong bone.
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Patella – The patella is your knee cap. So it is located in the middle of your Femur and your shin.
It is a Sesamoid bone. The main function of the Patella is to help with the movement of the leg and to
provide more power.
 Tibia The tibia is in the leg. It is the larger and stronger bone in the leg. This connects the ankle to the knee.
http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/oxford/Oxford_Sports/0199210896.tibia.1.jp
g
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Fibula
The fibula is in the leg. It is the smaller and weaker bone in the leg. It projects below the tibia.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Illu_lower_extremity.jpg/250pxIllu_lower_extremity.jpg
Tarsals - The seven tarsals are the short bones which make up the foot. The tarsal bones are named
as follows: talus, calcaneus, cuboid, navicular and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cuneiform.
http://yoursbody.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Tarsal-Bone.jpg accessed 17/9/12
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Metatarsals - Metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones in the foot located between the tarsal
bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes.
vertebral column
i.
cervical - This is located at the top of the spine and is fixed to the neck. The
cervical helps protect the spinal cord that sends messages from the brain to control
all parts of the body. The cervical is incredibly flexible which helps move the neck,
while also being strong. This helps in many sports such as ruby which gives you
strength when going into a scrum.
ii.
Thoracic - The thoracic bone is located underneath the cervical bone, it moves with
the ribs, the thoracic bone is near enough at the back of the ribs. The thoracic bone
would help to protect your kidneys when pressure is applied to your body.
iii.
lumbar – The lumbar bone provides support to the body’s weight and it is also
connected to a lot of the muscles in your back, this would help when doing long
distance running as the body needs to be supported.
iii.
vertebrae - The vertebrae are made up of 5 major parts of the body, which are
labelled below. Vertebrae: This is within the mid-line of your back; this allows you to
move around and to keep you upright, standing tall and straight.
iv.
sacrum - The sacrum is a large triangle bone at the base of the spine and the upper
and back part of the pelvic cavity. It is based in beetween the two hip bones. Its
role is to aid movement round the hip area.
v.
Coccyx - The coccyx is located at the bottom of the spine and is made up of 4
bones, most commonly known as the tail bone. The coccyx helps you sit down
comfortably and functions as extra protection
4. Function of skeletal system:
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support – description
protection
attachment for skeletal muscle
source of blood cell production
store of minerals
5. Joint classifications:
 Fixed - types, structures, movement at each joint
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slightly moveable; types, structures, movement at each joint
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synovial/freely moveable types, structures, movement at each joint -Ball and socket - (hip and
shoulder), Hinge joints - (knee and elbow), Pivot - (neck), Condyloid – (wrist), Gliding (ankle and
wrist), Saddle (thumb)
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