Human Body Essential Questions
How many bones are in each subset of our skeletal system?
How are rodent and human skeletal systems similar and different?
What is it like to perform everyday activities without a thumb?
What physical features allow us to perform intricate everyday tasks?
How are joints similar and different?
How are the bones and joints in humans and other animals similar and different?
What causes the bones in our legs to move?
How do muscles attach to the bones to make movement possible?
How is the arm model similar and different than the leg and thumb models?
What is skin?
How does skin protect our bodies?
What causes us to move or respond in various situations?
What factors might affect the response time?
Why might one hand have a quicker response time?
How do forces affect the speed and direction of objects?
How do the joints, bones, and muscles work together?
What are the roles of skin?
Human Body Vocabulary
Cartilage- The rubbery, flexible material that sometimes connects bones and provides shape for some
body parts, including the nose and ears.
Coordination- When different parts of the human body work together to complete a task.
Force- A push or a pull on an object.
Gravity- The force of Earth pulling on an object downward toward Earth's center.
Joints- Where bones come together and allows for specialized movement; Most joints provide
movement, however some are fixed and do not move.
Protection -Bones that guard other body parts; the condition of being protected; to protect from
damage or injury.
Skeleton- Our whole system of bones
Subsystem- Bones that make up parts of the skeleton
Support- Bones that hold us up
Movement- Bones that help us walk, touch, and turn
Articulated- Jointed or joined in sections, as in the human skeleton.
Immobilization- is to stop the use of bones and joints; to prevent something from moving.
Opposable thumb- positioned opposite the other fingers, providing the ability to touch finger tips to
thumb.
Ball-and-socket joint - Where two bones meet and movement is a rotation; moves three ways: up and
down, front to back, and can rotate. [only at the shoulders and hips]
Compensate- To do something in another way; overcome
Gliding joints- Where two bones meet, allowing limited movement in two directions, but does not
Rotate- [all other joints]
Hinge joint - Where two bones meet and allows movement in one direction (back and forth only);
moves like a gate or door hinge [knees, elbows, and the end two joints of each finger and thumb]
contract - To become smaller or shorter in size.
Fulcrum- The pivot point on which a lever moves
Ligament- The tissue that connects bone to bone, or bone to cartilage and supports and strengthens
joints. Ligaments often guide the placement of tendons.
Muscle Tissue- that can contract, resulting in the movement of bones.
Tendon- A ropelike tissue that connects muscle to bone.
Tissue- A group of cells that look and act the same. It forms bodybuilding materials such as muscle,
tendon, ligament, bone, nerve, and fat.
Biceps- powerful muscle located on top of the upper arm bone (humerus)
Triceps- powerful muscle located under the upper arm bone (humerus) that acts in opposition to the
biceps
Skin- protective external covering of the body; protects from external conditions and forces; largest
body organ
nerve receptor -a structure (a sensory nerve) that responds to stimuli to give us information about
external conditions.
Protection- The condition of being protected; to protect from damage or injury.
Skin- The thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person or animal.
Stimulus- Something that triggers (starts) a response. A stimulus is often information received through
senses.
Tissue- A group of cells that look and act the same. It forms bodybuilding materials such as muscle,
tendons, ligaments, bones, nerves, and fat.
Coordination- When all parts of the body work together to complete a task.
Force- A push or a pull on an object.
Gravity- The force of Earth pulling on an object downward toward Earth's center.
Response- A reaction of a living thing to a stimulus.
Response time- The length of time it takes for a person to respond to a stimulus.
Speed- How fast or slow something moves; measured by how far an object moves in a set amount of
time.
Stimulus- Something that triggers (starts) a response. A stimulus is often information received through
senses.