The SkeletonFunction

Names of BonesTypes of Bones

Bones and Sport

What you will learn about in this section:

• The Function of the Skeleton• The Name of the Bones• The Different Shapes of Bones• How Bones Help the Sportsperson• Bones Linked With Sporting Actions

The Skeleton

What is the skeleton?The Skeleton is a framework of bones that is held together by ligaments and joints.

Functions of the Skeleton

The joints of the skeleton, where two or more bones come together, allows some movement depending upon the type of joint and the types of bone. These variations will determine the kind of movement there can be.

Movement

The skeleton forms protection around some of the more delicate organs of the body.

Eg: the skull protects the brain, the ribs protect the heart and lungs.

Protection

Shape

The skeleton gives us our general shape; tall, short, broad or narrow.

(Look around you and compare your structure)

Support The skeleton provides the

body with a rigid structure that gives it its shape.

Muscles are attached to the skeletons outside while the vital organs are attached to the inside.

Red and white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, a substance found inside the larger bones of the body.

These are necessary for fighting disease and transporting oxygen around the body.

Blood Production

What were the functions again....?

Names of major bones

in the skeleton

Look at the upper body first(remember the ulna is under the radius)!

Lower body (the tibia is on top

of the fibula)

Match these bones to the picture:

Metacarpals SacrumPatella Metatarsals Humerus

Radius Pelvis SternumTibia Clavicle Femur

FibulaCarpals Phalanges Ulna Vertebrae Scapula Tarsals Cranium Mandible

Bones – Knowledge Test

axial skeleton appendicular skeleton

There are two parts to the skeleton

This consists of:

The skull: 8 flat bones that fuse together over time.

The vertebral column or spine: 24 movable vertebrae and two groups of fused vertebrae.

The rib cage: 12 pairs of ribs (protect vital

organs & part of the breathing mechanism).

The Axial Skeleton

Made up from the pelvic girdle and the shoulder girdle.

Both these girdles are quite rigid but they are attached to legs and arms that are free to move.

The Appendicular Skeleton

The Different Shapes of Bones

Type of Bone

Example

Long Bones Arms, legs, hands (metacarpals), feet (metatarsals), phalanges

Short Bones Hands (carpals), feet (tarsals)

Flat Bones Skull, shoulder blade, sternum, ribs, pelvis, clavicle (collar bone)

Irregular Bones

Vertebrae, knee, jaw bone, cheek bone

There are four types of bone and each type is given a name dependant of its shape or size.

Long bones; long to create leverage when playing sport.

Can you give examples of a sport where long bones would benefit the sports performer?

Long bones help to generate speed, force and power.

Types of Bones & Sport

Long limbs are an advantage in Volleyball

What other bones are long bones an advantage for?

See if you and a partner can list 5 other sports.

Basketball, rowing, netball – goal shoot/defence, tennis, cricket – bowler, boxing.

Question

These are tough and are designed to withstand hard impact.

In a game of rugby which areas of the body would need to withstand a tackle/fall/scrum?

Flat Bones

Short bones; fine movement eg: putting spin on a ball in cricket, these bones help make small adjustments and are very important.

Name 2 other sports where fine movements are critical for the success of a particular sport.

Short Bones

Irregular bones; act as shock absorbers (especially on the back and the knee).

Give an example of a sport where irregular bones are used to assist with the absorption of shock on the body.

Irregular Bones