musculoskeletal system

אנטומה

2022

We explain what the musculoskeletal system is and what it is for. Also, how to take care of the musculoskeletal system, and its most common diseases.

It allows the human body to stand and perform various movements.

What is the musculoskeletal system?

It is called musculoskeletal system or also musculoskeletal system to the complex network of tissue of a different nature that allows the human body to stand up and perform various movements, from simply walking to the most precise and delicate gestures of the hands.

The musculoskeletal system consists of the union of several sets different, which are the system osteoarticular (composed by bones, joints and ligaments) and the system muscular (muscles and tendons). Together they support the body, keep it in shape and allow you to perform movements coordinated, thanks to coordination who exercises the nervous system (composed of the nerves, spine, and brain).

Of these two main systems, the osseous and the muscular, the first is considered passive and the second active, since the latter is the one that starts the movement, through the compression and stretching of the muscle fibers, once the nervous stimulus from the brain reaches them.

An important point in this apparatus is constituted by the joints, which are the point of contact of two bones in the body, which can allow a certain type of movement and accordingly are classified as: synarthrosis (without movement), symphysis (with a monoaxial movement, that is, in the same axis) or diatrosis (with complex movements).The bones occupy a fixed place in the joints, thanks to the ligaments that keep them in place.

Similarly, the tendons are the tissue that joins the muscles to the bones, made of an extremely resistant material, which allows the elastic movement of the muscle fibers without this meaning detaching them from their obligatory place in the skeleton.

What is the musculoskeletal system for?

The musculoskeletal system not only allows the enormous and diverse variety of movements that our human body is capable of, but also keeps the body upright, in its exact position, which is extremely important for Health of the internal organs. Without the musculoskeletal system we would be condemned to inactivity, like floors, since we could not physically move at will.

How to take care of the musculoskeletal system?

The care of the musculoskeletal system includes the following recommendations:

  • Warm up before undergoing physical activity or exercise.
  • Maintain a diet rich in potassium, calcium and iron (although without excesses that are harmful to kidney function).
  • Avoid situations of extreme wear on the joints (especially in occupations such as writers, pianists, weavers, and other manual trades) or take precautions to minimize damage.
  • avoid the overweight.
  • Perform physical activities on a regular basis (active life).
  • Use appropriate postures when carrying out long-term activities (including sleeping), using ergonomic materials and becoming aware of posture.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

In osteoarthritis, the joints between the bones lose their elastic tissue.

There are ailments of the musculoskeletal system, some due to more or less natural causes and wear and tear, and others caused by agents external to the body. Among them, the following stand out:

  • Osteoarthritis.A chronic and degenerative disease, sometimes of autoimmune origin, in which the joints between the bones They lose the elastic tissue that allows their mobility: the cartilage, and therefore they remain increasingly rigid.
  • Arthritis. Arthritis consists of an inflammation of the joint tissue, either permanent or temporary, causing swelling, pain, stiffness and difficulty moving the limbs, although over time they can even twist the joints and deform the limbs.
  • Osteoporosis. It is a chronic loss of calcium in the bones, which demineralizes them and makes them more fragile over time. This causes thinning and weakness of the bones, which become porous (hence the name) and lose mass.
  • Parkinson disease. Parkinson's disease is really a disease of the Central Nervous System (Brain), which affects the way nerve impulses are transmitted throughout the body. However, the common symptoms are manifested in the musculoskeletal system, through stiffness, tremors or involuntary movements.
  • Mal de San Vito. Also called Huntington's disease or Huntington's chorea, it is a neurological degenerative disease, which is usually hereditary, although extremely rare. It was discovered in 1872 and its symptoms include involuntary movements, spasms and grimaces, and it is due to a mutation in a gene of chromosome 4.
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