Unit 1: Principles of
Anatomy and
physiology in Sport
Kevin Browne
Learning Outcomes
 All students will be able to identify the five main
functions of the skeleton.
 Most students will be able to describe the terms used
to identify the location of anatomical structures
 Most students will be able to describe the functions of
a majority of specific bones in the skeleton.
 Some students will be able to write a paragraph on
the different functions of the skeleton
Terms for locations (Worksheet)
Anterior
Posterior
Inferior
Proximal
Distal
Lateral
Medial
Superior
Locations
 To the front or in front
 To the rear or behind
 Towards the mid-line
 Away from the mid-line
 Near to the root of
origin
 Away from the root of
origin
 Above
 Below
(Anterior)
(Posterior)
(Medial)
(Lateral)
(Proximal)
(Distal)
(Superior)
(Inferior)
What does our skeleton do?
Functions
The skeleton has a number of mechanical and
physiological functions:
 Support
 Movement
 Protection
 Storage of minerals
 Production of blood cells
Support
The skeleton acts as a framework.
It gives the body support, enabling us to stand
and walk upright.
The bones of the back and chest support
internal organs and help to keep them in place.
The bones of the body are held together by
ligaments.
The skeleton provides a framework for the
muscles, which are attached to bones by
tendons.
Can you imagine what humans would look like if
they didn’t have bones to support them?
Movement
• Bones work with muscles to produce movement.
• Muscles are attached to bones by tendons.
• Bones have surfaces that allow for strong attachment. Tendons fuse
with the tough Periosteum membrane on the outside of the bone.
Muscle
Tendon
Periosteum
Bone
Movement
Protection
• Some of our body parts, such as the
brain, are very delicate and need
protection from external forces.
cranium
• Bones can protect body parts from
impacts and injuries.
• The cranium protects the brain.
It encloses the brain entirely in a shell of
bone.
• The rib cage protects the delicate organs
of the chest.
Can you think of two reasons why the rib cage has gaps in it
rather than being a solid shell of bone?
Blood cell production
• Red and white blood cells and
platelets are made in the bones.
• The ends of long bones and some
other bones including the ribs,
Humerus, Femur and even vertebrae
bones, contain red bone marrow.
• This is where the blood cells are
produced.
•The shaft of long bones is filled with
yellow bone marrow which does not
produce blood cells.
Red
marrow
embedded
in spongy
bone
Yellow
bone
marrow in
the shaft
Blood Composition
Red Blood cells
Also referred to as Erythrocytes, the primary function of
red blood cells is the transportation of oxygen and
carbon dioxide.
White blood cells
Act in various ways to protect the body, and form a
‘mobile army’ that helps protect the body from
damage by bacteria, viruses, toxins ect…
Platelets
Are cell fragments that help stop bleeding.
Storage of minerals
Bone is a reservoir for minerals, the most
important of which are calcium and
phosphate.
These stored minerals are released into the
bloodstream as needed for distribution to all
parts of the body
Clavicle
Commonly called the
collarbone, is a slender
S-shaped bone that
connects the upper arm
to the trunk of the body
and holds the shoulder
joint away from the body
to allow for greater
freedom of movement.
Ribs
The ribs are thin, flat,
curved bones that form a
protective cage around
the organs in the upper
body.
They are comprised 24
bones arranged in 12
pairs.
Scapula
The scapula is a large,
triangular, flat bone on the back
side of the rib cage commonly
called the shoulder blade.
It overlays the second through
seventh rib and serves as an
attachment for several muscles.
Pelvic Girdle
The Pelvic Girdle is composed to two
coxal (hip) bones. The coxal bones
are also called innominate bones.
The innominate bones consists of
three separate parts: the Ilium, the
Ischium and the Pubis.
The pelvic girdle provides the sockets
for the hip joints and supports the
lower abdominal organs
Patella
The patella or kneecap is a
large, triangular sesamoid bone
between the femur and the
tibia.
It is formed in response to the
strain in the tendon that forms
the knee, protecting the joint
Activity 2
On your own
Without using your notes, write a paragraph on at least
two of the functions of the skeleton.
Please do this in your work books
Remember to include:
 A definition of the function
 A description of what that definition means in your
own words
 Relate the function to an example of a bone
 Explain the use of this function in a sport
Additional Reading
 This website will help with your Assignment
and to do further research which will help you
get the higher marks