Movement analysis of the skeletal and muscular systems(1) THE SKELETAL SYSTEM:[IMAGE]http://www.nanomedicine.com/NMI/Figures/8.22.jpgThe system skeletal constitutes the rigid structure of the body; can be divided into 2 parts, the axial skeleton and the appendicular one. The functions of the skeleton are to support the body, provide protection to organs, enable movement and store bone marrow for blood.[IMAGE]http://learntech.uwe.ac.uk/radiography/RAnatomy/musculoskeletal/appendicularskeleton .htm(1.1) The AXIAL skeleton constitutes the core of the skeletal system and is made up of: · Skull · Spinal column · Sternum · Ribs Skull: the skull is a box-shaped cavity that contains and protects the brain. It is made up of interconnected bony segments that gradually fuse together during the first years of life.[IMAGE]http://face-and-emotion.com/dataface/fisiognomy/cranium.aspSpine: The spinal column extends from the skull to the thepelvi, providing a central axis for the body. It is made up of 33 irregular bones called vertebrae. The spine accounts for 40% of a person's overall height and is held together by strong, powerful ligaments. The spinal column is divided into regions: · The cervical region is made up of 7 vertebrae to form a flexible structure for the neck and support the head. · The thoracic region is made up of 12 vertebrae that increase in size from top to bottom. They move with the ribs and form the back part of the rib cage. The lumbar region supports the weight of the body and is made up of 5 vertebrae, which are the largest in the spine, and are attached to many muscles of the back. The sacrum is a triangular vertebra, up to around 26 years of age it is made up of 4 or 5 smaller vertebrae which fuse together. It forms the back of the pelvis and moves with it. · The coccyx is made up of 3 to 5 fused vertebrae and is attached to many muscles.[IMAGE]http://www.d.umn.edu/~amerdit/anatomysite/ Respirationskeletalsystemnotes_files/image002 .gifSternum: the sternum is a flat, elongated bone and is located in the center of the chest.