The muscular
system
Aims of the session
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To recap on the skeletal system.
To understand the structure and function of
synovial joints.
To understand the anatomy of a joint.
To introduce the muscular system listing all
major muscle groups.
To know what muscles fibres are and how
they contract helping the body to move.
Recap on the skeletal system
List the functions of the skeletal system.
 What is the anatomical name for the
thigh bone?
 What are the four types of bones in our
bodies?
 What type of bone is the cranium?
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The anatomy of a synovial
joint
Synovial joints are simply joints in our
bodies that help us to move. They are
called synovial joints because they have
a pocket of synovial fluid between them
that helps lubrication during motion.
 There are six synovial joints, can you
name them?
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Synovial joints in the body
Gliding
 Hinge
 Condyloid
 Saddle
 Ball and socket
 Pivot
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Gliding Joint
Two flat surfaces
slide against one
another
 allows only limited
side to side, back
and forward
movements
 Carpal to carpal
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Hinge Joint
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Allows only flexion
and extension
humerus to ulna
phalange to
phalange
femur to tibia
lower leg to talus
Condyloid Joint
Allows flexion,
extension,
abduction,
adduction and
limited
circumduction
 forearm to carpals
 femur to tibia
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Saddle Joint
Only found at base
of thumb joint
Allows flexion,
extension, abduction
and adduction
 metacarpal and
trapezium
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Ball And Socket Joint
Allows flexion,
extension,
abduction,
adduction and
circumduction
 scapula to humerus
 hip to femur
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Pivot Joint
Allows rotation only
 Radius to ulna
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Task one
On your paper draw
movement of each
synovial joints.
 Example!
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The basic anatomy of a joint
A joint is when two bones meet.
 The two bones (joint) is made stable by
ligaments that attach to both of the bones.
 Cartilage is formed at the end of the bones to
reduce friction (bones rubbing together) and
causing injury.
 Synovial fluid is sandwiched between the
bones to help lubrication when the bones are
rubbing together.
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Diagram of a joint (anterior)
Diagram of a joint (anterio
posterior)
Warm-up questions joints
What are the six synovial joints in the
body?
 What movement occurs are a ball and
socket joint?
 What protects the bones from rubbing
together?
 What joint allows rotation movement
only.
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Introduction to the muscular
system
Muscle can only pull, they cannot push.
 Muscles attach to the bone through tendons.
 Muscles are constructed of fibres, there are
two types o fibres (slow twitch and fast
twitch).
 Sprinters are said to have more fast twitch
fibres, and long distances runners are to have
more slow twitch fibres.
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Diagram showing the major
muscle groups
Classifications of muscles
There are three types of muscle you
need to know.
 Cardiac muscle
 Skeletal muscle
 Smooth muscle
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Cardiac muscle
Found only in the
heart.
 Not under our
control
 The muscle cells
look like one big line
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Smooth muscle
The muscle cells
are spindle shaped.
 Located around the
major organs.
 Muscle is not under
our control.
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Skeletal muscle
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Muscle is attached to
the bone via tendons.
The muscle cell is
spindle formed and
consists of fibres the
overlap.
When electricity is
induced to the muscle
fibres they become
shorter.
The muscles cells are
voluntary, (under our
control).
Using muscles
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Muscle fatigue
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Muscle atrophy
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When your using your muscles a lot and they don’t get
enough oxygen, they become tired or FATIGUED.
If you don’t use your muscles enough they become
smaller and wasted, this is called MUSCLE ATROPHY.
Cramp
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A sudden contraction of a muscles that wont relax,
caused by a lack of blood supply to the muscle.
The sliding filament theory
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The sliding filament theory is very
complex, but can be simplified by
thinking of the muscles like a giant
comb, the teeth of the come are the
muscle fibres and when the muscle
contracts these fibres overlap pulling
the tendons together making the
muscle shorter.
Antagonistic - agonist
Muscles can only pull, because of this
they must work in pairs.
 When one muscle contracts to move
the skeletal system this is called
agonist.
 The muscle that relaxes is called the
antagonist.
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The purpose of tendons
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Tendons are formed
at the end of the
muscles and attach
the muscle to the
bone allowing the
body to move.
The purpose of ligaments
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Ligaments are
designed to support
joints by attaching
to both bones
making the joint
secure during
twisting and
stretching
movements during
sport.
Types of muscle contraction
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Isometric contraction
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Muscle stays the length, its like trying to move
an immoveable object.
Isotonic contraction
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When the muscles move and (become shorter
and longer) just like weight lifting.
Warm-up questions
Can muscles pull?
 How are muscles attached to the
skeletal system?
 What are the three kinds of muscle?
 What are the pair of muscle groups in
the upper leg called?
 What is the theory called that allows
muscular contraction?
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Extended reading
www.bbc/bitesizelearning/pe.com
 GCSE Physical education; complete
revision and practice.
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