Biology 30 flashcards ~15 min

Human Skeletal and Muscular System

Master the framework and movement systems of the human body with this comprehensive skeletal and muscular system flashcard deck. The skeletal system provides structural support, protects vital organs, stores minerals, and produces blood cells, while the mus...

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This deck covers the axial and appendicular skeleton, bone structure and classification, types of joints, ossification, skeletal muscle structure, the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction, muscle fibre types, the neuromuscular junction, and major muscle groups and their actions. Essential for GCSE, A-Level, AP Biology, and university anatomy and physiology courses.

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Support, Protection, Movement (muscle attachment), Mineral storage, Blood cell production (haematopoiesis).

Skull, vertebral column, rib cage, sternum — 80 bones protecting brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs.

Limb bones and their girdles — 126 bones enabling movement and manipulation.

206 (infants have ~270; many fuse during growth).

Long (femur), Short (carpals), Flat (skull), Irregular (vertebrae).

Diaphysis (shaft), Epiphysis (ends), Medullary cavity, Periosteum, Articular cartilage, Epiphyseal plate.

Compact: dense outer shell (osteons). Spongy: porous trabeculae, contains red marrow.

Osteoblasts (build bone), Osteocytes (maintain bone), Osteoclasts (break down bone).

Bone formation — intramembranous (flat bones) or endochondral (long bones, replacing cartilage).

Where two or more bones meet — classified as fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial.

Fibrous (immovable, e.g. sutures), Cartilaginous (slightly movable, e.g. discs), Synovial (freely movable).

Ball-and-socket, Hinge, Pivot, Saddle, Gliding, Condyloid.

Joint capsule, synovial membrane/fluid, articular cartilage, ligaments, sometimes menisci.

Ligament: bone to bone. Tendon: muscle to bone.

Skeletal (voluntary, striated), Cardiac (involuntary, striated), Smooth (involuntary, non-striated).

Muscle → Fascicles → Fibres → Myofibrils → Sarcomeres (actin + myosin filaments).

The basic contractile unit, bounded by Z-discs, containing actin and myosin filaments.

Myosin heads pull actin filaments toward the sarcomere centre using ATP, shortening the fibre.

Ca²⁺ binds troponin, shifting tropomyosin to expose myosin-binding sites on actin.

The synapse where a motor neuron releases acetylcholine, triggering muscle contraction.

Type I: slow-twitch, fatigue-resistant (endurance). Type II: fast-twitch, powerful, fatigue quickly (sprinting).

Continuous partial contraction at rest, maintaining posture and readiness.

Isotonic: muscle changes length (lifting). Isometric: force without length change (plank).

ATP/glycogen depletion, lactic acid buildup, disrupted ion balance.

Agonist: causes movement. Antagonist: opposes/reverses it (e.g. biceps/triceps).

Biceps brachii, Triceps brachii, Deltoid, Pectoralis major, Trapezius.

Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Gastrocnemius/Soleus, Gluteus maximus, Tibialis anterior.

Weak, brittle bones from bone density loss — common postmenopausally due to reduced oestrogen.

The disc's soft core pushes through a tear in its outer layer, potentially compressing nerves.

ATP depletion after death prevents actin-myosin cross-bridges from releasing, causing stiffness.