What Is the Function of the Musculoskeletal System?
The main functions of the musculoskeletal system are to support the body, help the body maintain posture and protect vital organs. Skeletal muscles are supported by the bones, and they work together to allow the body to move.
The skeletal system consists of the bones, cartilages, ligaments, and connective tissues and muscles. The bones are responsible for providing support, storing minerals and lipids, producing blood cells, protecting organs and providing movement. Cartilage is a connective tissue that keeps bones from rubbing together during movement. Ligaments attach bones to one another, and muscles help with body movement and aid in digestion.
There are 206 bones in the normal adult human body, and there are about 700 muscles. Muscle is responsible for nearly half the weight of a body. Skeletal muscle is the only muscle in the body that is consciously controlled. The remainder of the muscles are inside the body’s organs, such as the heart and the stomach, and work involuntarily. The skeletal muscles attach two bones together with tendons, which are very strong and can hold up under extreme stress. Muscles lengthen and shorten in order to allow motion so the two bones can move farther apart or closer together.
