Movement and Locomotion (Essay Sample)

MOVEMENT AND LOCOMOTION
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Introduction
The human skeletal system is made in such a way that it is adapted to its functions of support, locomotion, movement and attachment of muscles. It consists of numerous bones that are interconnected through the joints. For the purpose of joining the bones on the joints, the human skeletal system also consists of the ligaments, tendons and the cartilages. The arrangements and the different types of joints of the skeletal system are themselves adaptations for movement and locomotion (Human Kinetics 2013, P. 32). An example is the hip joint, which takes the form of a ball and socket joint. Similarly, the shape of the bones and the length of the bones are also adaptive features for enabling body locomotion and movement. The arrangement of the skeletal muscles is naturally done in such a way that it aids in movement and locomotion. The body muscles are of different types, shapes and sizes, a feature that serves to enhance the adaptations of the musculoskeletal system to movement and locomotion (Human Kinetics 2013, P. 33). The structure of the muscles too is an adaptation to locomotion and movement. The musculoskeletal system, therefore, performs its functions courtesy of the natural adaptations that it has. The paper examines the adaptations of the skeletal system in relation to its function, the arrangement of muscles, and the function of locomotion and movement. The paper will refer to the training of the world cup footballer by relating his training to the adaptations of the skeletal system.
5.1. How the Structure of the Skeleton is related to its Function
The human skeleton is classified into two subdivisions. The first subdivision is the axial skeleton that consists of the skull and much of the vertebral column. The second subdivision is the appendicular skeleton, which consists of the hip bone (pelvic girdle), the pectoral (shoulder) bone and the limbs (Rodgers, 2010). With the consideration of the body systems like the cardiovascular, digestive and the respiratory system, the skeleton is said of having three major functions. These are support, protection and motion. Motion includes movement and locomotion.
In terms of protection, the axial skeleton is characterized by hard bones that protect the brain and the spinal cord. The spinal cord and the brain are entirely located in the axial skeleton. Bones of the cranial vault are hard and with fixed joints, an adaptation that aids protection of the brain (Rodgers 2010). The vertebral column too consists of the vertebrae, which have a canal through which the spinal cord passes. The walls of the canal consist of hard bony material for protection. In the case of training a footballer, many exercises and movements are involved. The intactness of the cranial vault and the vertebral column ensures that the brain and the spinal cord remain undisturbed by the movements. Similarly, the many vertebral joints of the vertebral column ensure that flexibility of the body of the footballer during training. Since the footballer has to make many moves, and turn in different directions, the flexibility of the joints facilitates the moves (Rodgers 2010).
Posture and its maintenance is another feature of the adaptation of the skeleton. The shape of the skeleton and the joints, as well as, the ability to free the limbs is an adaptation to posture, locomotion and movement (Currey 2002). Considering the neck, for example, it is made up of many vertebral joints and the muscles that enable it to turn into the different directions. The footballer who is on training needs to turn into different directions to monitor the ball, and the locations of the other footballers. This is made possible by the arrangement of the vertebrae of the neck. Similarly, the shape of the vertebral column and the bones of the skeleton is an adaptation feature of the skeletal system (Currey 2002). The vertebral column has curves in the neck region, the thoracic region and also the lumbar (abdominal) region. The neck region has an inward curve, an outward curve for the thoracic region, and there is an inward curve for the lumbar region. Such curves allow for easy bending during movement, locomotion and posture. Considering the case of the training footballer, there are many movements involved, including bending and making body moves and turns. The curves of the vertebral column allows for such turns and bending in the flexion and extension movements, enabling the footballer to make swift moves and chase the ball.
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Figure 5.1.1: The human skeleton showing the curves of the vertebral column (Google)
The joints of the skeletal system are also an adaptation for the movement and locomotion. There are different types of joints in the skeletal system. Considering the different functions of the skeletal system, the different joints are adapted for the different functions. For example, the joints of the cranial vault are fixed and do not allow for movement (Currey 2002). This is an adaptation for protection of the delicate brain. The joints of the vertebral column also allows for very small movements, since they have to permit the bending, but at the same time, they have to protect the spinal cord (Rodgers 2010). In relation to the limbs and their movements, a special type of a joint, referred to as the ball and socket joints are involved. As an adaptive feature, the hip and the shoulder joints allows for free movement to an extent of 360 degrees (Currey 2002). The football trainee uses this feature in chasing the ball and kicking the ball from different angles. The extension of the limbs is also endowed with flexible joints for movement and locomotion. The knee and the elbow joints allow for extensive flexion and extension movements, which are necessary for the trainee, in terms of kicking the ball in different directions, and applying the needed force. In addition, the ankle joint is a major adaptation of the skeletal system for locomotion. The muscles that reinstate the joint allows for planter-flexion and dorsiflexion movements that are very useful in football training. They allow for kicking the ball upwards, as well as, in all directions. Finally, the muscles of the skeletal system are attached to the bones, and they are the ones responsible for making the different movements of the body.
Figure 5.1.2: Body Joints (Google)
5.2. Arrangement of Skeletal muscles in the Human Body.
The skeletal muscle organization in the human body is, in a way, that allows for movement. Since the muscles are attached in the joints, there organization allows for a range of movement, power and movement of the joints they are associated. The muscle cells, referred to as fibres, are organized and arranged into bundles referred to as fascicles. The arrangement is such that the fibres run parallel to the fascicles. The four different patterns of organization of the fascicles are parallel, convergent, penname and circular (Malcntosh, Gardiner & McComas 2006).
The parallel or fusiform arrangement of the muscles is the most common with the skeletal muscles. Muscles arranged this way have the central part being thick than the ends. The parallel muscles contract extensively, which is an important adaptive feature of the musculoskeletal system. An example is the Sartorius muscle, which is the longest muscle in the body. They contribute greatly to flexion and extension.
Figure 5. 2. 1: Muscle Fascicle Arrangement: Retrieved from "Human Kinetics" (n.d).
The penname muscle arrangement is further divided into three categories of the unipennate, bipinnate and the multipennate. They are feather-like, and they form angles with tendons. Although they contain more myofibrils than the parallel muscles, they do not allow as much movement as the parallel muscles. However, the pennate muscles have been found to develop more tension than the penname muscles (Rodgers 2010). In the case of training as a footballer, the parallel muscles will allow more movement, while the pennate muscles allows for tension needed while training. In football training, the trainee will require to move the lower limbs to kick the balls, a function of the parallel muscles while one needs to develop tension for balance and support.
Another arrangement of muscles comes in the form of circular muscles. The circular muscles compose of a concentric arrangement of muscle fascicles (Malcntosh, Gardiner & McComas 2006). They form the openings and closing of body openings. They are very useful for a training footballer. During the training, some of the openings of the footballer need to remain closed, while others like the mouth may be open to aid in respiration. The circular muscles like the orbicularis oris perform that function.
The arrangement of skeletal muscles is also in such a way that allows the muscles to function like levers. The attachments of the skeletal muscles on the skeleton is responsible for the production of motion. For example, the muscles attach on an end of a bone, and insert themselves at the beginning of another muscle, such that they surround the joint (Rodgers 2010). Such an arrangement facilitate protection of the delicate joints by the muscles, as well as, movement of the joint in various directions and angles. In the lever system arrangement, the bone functions as a structure that is moved by the muscles through the fulcrum, which is the joint. The lever system is of the joints has the three classes of levers. An example is the lever of the upper arm, with the biceps muscle that functions to move the elbow joint in a third class lever system.
Fig 5.2.2: The biceps muscle in a lever system. Its contraction causes flexion of the knee joint. (Diagram courtesy of Google)
5.3: Functions of the Skeletal System...