Basic Anatomy and
Biomechanics
PE 254
Functions of the
Musculoskeletal System
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Gives the body shape
Protects internal organs
Provides for movement
Consists of more than 600 muscles
Anatomy
Muscles
Ligaments
Tendons
Bones
- provide movement &
generate heat.
- connect bone to bone
injury = sprain
- connect bone to muscle
injury = strain
- protection & shape
The Skeletal System
Gives form to the body
Protects vital organs
Consists of 206 bones
Acts as a framework for attachment of
muscles
Designed to permit motion of the body
The Skull
The Neck
The Spinal Column
Structure of the Spine
The Thorax
The Pelvis
The Lower Extremity
Hip
Thigh
Knee
Leg
Ankle
Foot
The Upper Extremity
Shoulder girdle
Arm
Elbow
Forearm
Wrist
Hand
Joints
Degree of movement
 Synarthrosis – immovable joint
(ex: the skull)
 Amphiarthrosis – slightly movable joint
(ex: fibrocartilaginous disc between the
vertebrae; ligament or membrane links the
two bones such as scapula to the clavicle)
 Diarthrosis – freely movable joint
(ex: hip or shoulder joint)
Diarthrosis Joints
Examples of Diarthrosis Joints
Types of Muscle (1 of 3)
Skeletal (voluntary) muscle
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Attached to the bones of the body
Smooth (involuntary) muscle
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Carry out the automatic muscular functions
of the body
Types of Muscle (2 of 3)
Smooth (involuntary) muscle
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Carry out the automatic muscular functions
of the body
Types of Muscle (3 of 3)
Cardiac muscle
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Involuntary muscle
Has own blood supply and electrical
system
Can tolerate interruptions of blood supply
for only very short periods
Human Body Muscle Diagram
Muscle Groups
Because a single muscle usually does not act
alone when it exerts tension in normal body
movement, it acts as one member of the team of
muscles that partially or wholly can control or
contribute to the joint movement occurring.
Therefore, it is convenient and adequate in most
cases of gross muscular analysis to refer to the
action of “groups of individual muscles” rather
than trying to name each one that is or might
acting.
Examples of Muscle Groups
Elbow flexors/extensors
Knee flexors/extensors
Shoulder abductors/adductors
Shoulder flexors/extensors
Hip flexors/extensors
Hip abductors/adductors
Standard Reference Terminology
Anatomical Reference Position
Erect standing position with all body parts,
including the palms of the hands, facing
forward; considered the starting position
for body segment movements
Basic Joint Articulations
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Adduction
Pronation (elbow and forearm)
Supination (elbow and forearm)
Standard Reference Terminology
Directional Terms
Superior
Inferior
Anterior
Posterior
Medial
Lateral
Proximal
Distal
Superficial
Deep
Standard Reference Terminology
Anatomical Reference Planes
Cardinal planes – 3 imaginary
perpendicular reference planes that divide
the body in half by mass
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Sagittal plane
Frontal plane
Transverse plane
Standard Reference Terminology
Anatomical Reference Axes
An imaginary axis of rotation that passes
through a joint to which it is attached
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Mediolateral axis
Anterioposterior axis
Longitudinal axis
2-5
Sagittal plane movements
2-6
Frontal Plane Movements
2-8
Transverse Plane Movements
2-13
Other Movements
2-16
2-19
Planes of Motion and Axes of Rotation
PLANES of Motion
AXES of Rotation
SAGGITAL
(FRONT TO BACK MAKING TWO HALVES,
LEFT AND RIGHT)
MEDIOLATERAL
FRONTAL
(SIDE TO SIDE MAKING TWO HALVES, FRONT ANTERIOPOSTERIOR
AND BACK)
TRANSVERSE
(TRANSVERSE MAKING TWO HALVES, TOP
AND BOTTOM)
LONGITUDINAL
What could a biomechanist do to
improve sport performance?
Group Activity
Group 1: Lunges.
Group 2: Standing broad jump.
Group 3: Discus throw.
Group 4: 100-meter sprint from the starting
block.
Group 5: Push-ups.
Group 6: Shoulder press with barbells.
Group 7: Free throws in basketball.
Group 8: Javelin throw.
Group 9: Bench press with straight bar.
Group 10: Field-goal kick in football.
Group Activity
Identify the following:
1. Joint(s) involved in activity
2. Muscle group(s) involved in activity
3. Plane(s) of motion
4. Axis(es) of rotation
Reminders
No class on Monday, September 6th in
observance of Labor Day
Quiz 2 on Wednesday, September 8th