MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES
The human musculoskeletal system organ system that gives humans the ability to move using the muscular and skeletal systems. The musculoskeletal system provides form, support, stability, and movement to the body.
The system is made up of the bones of the skeleton, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissue that supports and binds tissues and organs together. The musculoskeletal system's primary functions include supporting the body, allowing motion, and protecting vital organs. The skeletal portion of the system serves as the main storage system for calcium and phosphorus and contains critical components of the hematopoietic system.
This system reveals how bones are connected to other bones and muscle fibers via connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments. The bones provide stability to the body. Muscles keep bones in place and also play a role in the movement of bones. To allow motion, different bones are connected by joints. Cartilage prevents the bone ends from rubbing directly onto each other. Muscles contract to move the bone attached at the joint.
The musculoskeletal system having its muscles attached to an internal skeletal system, is necessary for humans to move to more favorable positions.
Complex issues and injuries involving the musculoskeletal system are usually handled by a physiatrist (specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation) or an orthopedic surgeon.
The main functions of the muscular system are as follows:
Mobility
The muscular system's main function is to allow movement. When muscles contract, they contribute to gross and fine movement. Gross movement refers to large, coordinated motions and includes:
- Walking
- Running
- Swimming
Fine movement involves smaller movements, such as:
- Writing
- Speaking
- Facial expressions
The smaller skeletal muscles are usually responsible for “fine movements”.
Stability
Muscle tendons stretch over joints and contribute to joint stability. Muscle tendons in the knee joint and the shoulder joint are crucial in the process of stabilizing the body.
The core muscles are those in the abdomen, back, and pelvis. They also stabilize the body and assist in tasks, such as lifting of weights.
Posture
Skeletal muscles help to keep the body in correct positions when one is sitting or standing. This is known generally as posture. Good posture relies on strong, flexible muscles. Stiff, weak, or tight muscles contribute to poor posturing and misalignment of the body. Long-term, bad posture leads to joint and muscle pain in the shoulders, back, neck, and other parts of the body.
Circulation
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. The movement of the heart is outside of conscious control, and it contracts automatically when stimulated by electrical signals. Smooth muscles in the arteries and veins play a huge role in the circulation of blood around the body. These muscles maintain blood pressure and circulation in the event of blood loss or dehydration. For instance, they expand to increase blood flow during times of intense exercise when the body requires more oxygen.
Respiration
Breathing involves the use of the diaphragm muscle. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located below the lungs. When the diaphragm contracts, it pushes downward, causing the chest cavity to get bigger. The lungs then fill with air. When the diaphragm muscle relaxes, it pushes air out of the lungs. When one breathes more deeply, it requires help from other muscles, including those in the abdomen, back, and neck.
Digestion
The muscular system allows for movement within the body, for example, during digestion or urination. Smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal or GI tract control digestion. The GI tract stretches from the mouth to the anus. Food moves through the digestive system with a wave-like motion called peristalsis. Muscles in the walls of the hollow organs contract and relax to cause this movement, which pushes food through the esophagus into the stomach. The upper muscle in the stomach relaxes to allow food to enter, while the lower muscles mix food particles with stomach acid and enzymes. The digested food moves from the stomach to the intestines by peristalsis. From here, more muscles contract to pass the food out of the body as stool.
Urination
The urinary system comprises both smooth and skeletal muscles, including those in the: bladder, kidneys, penis or vagina, prostate, ureters, urethra, the muscles and nerves work together to hold and release urine from the bladder.
Urinary problems, such as poor bladder control or retention of urine, are caused by damage to the nerves that carry signals to the muscles.
Childbirth
Smooth muscles in the uterus expand and contract during childbirth. These movements push the baby through the vagina. The pelvic floor muscles also helps to guide the baby's head down the birth canal.
Vision
Six skeletal muscles around the eye control its movements. These muscles work quickly and precisely, and allow the eye to: maintain a stable image, scan the surrounding area, and track moving objects. A person can suffer impairment of vision if the eye muscles are damaged.
Organ protection
The muscles in the torso protect the internal organs at the front, sides, and back of the body. The bones of the spine and the ribs provide further protection. Muscles also protect the bones and organs by acting as shock absorbers and reducing friction in the joints.
Temperature regulation
Maintaining normal body temperature is an important function of the muscular system. Almost 85 percent of the heat a person generates in their body comes from contracting muscles.
There are, however, diseases and disorders that may adversely affect the function and overall effectiveness of the system. These diseases can be difficult to diagnose due to the close relation of the musculoskeletal system to other internal systems.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are conditions that can affect muscles, bones, and joints. MSDs include:
- Tendinitis: Tendinitis is the inflammation or irritation of a tendon (the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone). The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint. Tendinitis can occur in any tendon, however, it is most common around theelbows, shoulders, knees, wrists and heels.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: This syndrome is a common condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. It occurs when the median nerve (one of the major nerves to the hand) is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist.
- Osteoarthritis: Arguably the most common form of arthritis, it occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. Osteoarthritis can damage any joint, however the disorder most commonly affects the joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is an auto-immune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body. RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once.
- Fibromyalgia: characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
- Bone fractures: A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. Fractures are common; the average person has two during a lifetime. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself.
Musculoskeletal Diseases are common. The risk of developing them increases with age.
