Human musculoskeletal system

The body system of bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments that supports the body, protects organs, and enables movement.

Human skeleton: The framework of bones and cartilage that supports the body and protects internal organs. Bones form the system’s rigid framework and provide attachment points for muscles.
Muscle contraction: The process by which muscle fibers generate tension, often by sliding actin and myosin filaments past one another. Contraction supplies the force that moves bones and stabilizes posture.
Fracture: A break in the continuity of a bone. Fractures disrupt the skeleton’s support and require coordinated healing.
Smooth muscle: Involuntary muscle tissue found in the walls of hollow organs and blood vessels. Unlike skeletal muscle, it does not directly pull on bones to produce movement.
Skeletal muscle: Muscle tissue under voluntary control that attaches to bones and produces movement. Its contractions pull on the skeleton to move body parts.
Neuromuscular junction: The synapse where a motor neuron communicates with a skeletal muscle fiber. Signals at this junction initiate the muscle activation needed for movement.
Osteoporosis: A disease characterized by reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk. It shows how changes in bone structure can compromise mechanical support.
Cardiac muscle: The specialized involuntary muscle tissue that forms the heart wall. It generates circulation rather than moving the skeleton.
Joint: A place where two or more bones meet, allowing varying degrees of movement or stability. Joints connect bones and determine how the skeleton can move.
Motor unit: A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it controls. Recruiting different numbers of motor units lets muscles grade their force.

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