FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

GRADE V SCIENCE

CHAPTER 3: THE SKELETAL AND MUSCULAR SYSTEM

The Skeletal System The skeletal and

muscular system
The framework of bones in our body is known as the
work together to
skeleton.
make the body
move.
Functions of Skeleton

Support – the skeleton keeps the body upright and provides the
framework for muscle and tissue attachment.
Posture – the skeleton gives correct shape to our body.
Protection –the skeleton protects the internal organs and reduce the risk
of injury on impact. For example, the cranium protects the brain, the ribs
offer protection to the heart and lungs, the vertebral column protects
the spinal cord.
Movement – the skeleton allows movement of the body as a whole and its
individual parts. The muscles attached to the bones help in movement of
the various body parts.
Blood cell production – certain bones in the skeleton contain bone marrow
which produces red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs)and
platelets. Examples of bones that contain marrow are the pelvis, sternum,
humerus and femur.
Storage of minerals - the bones store minerals such as calcium and
phosphorous and release them into the blood when the body needs to use
them.
A newborn baby has
300 bones. As the baby
grows, some bones join
together. The skeleton
of an adult has 206
bones
Skull
The bony structure of the head that holds the brain and gives head its shape is
called the skull. The round part of the skull that holds the brain is called the
cranium.

Functions of the skull

Skull provides protection to the brain.
It protects organs such as eyes, ears and nose.

Ribcage

The bony framework formed by the ribs is called the ribcage. It consists of 25
bones-one breastbone or sternum and 12 pairs of ribs. Ribs are attached to the
sternum in front and backbone at the back. Last two pairs called the floating
ribs are not attached to the sternum.

Sternum(breastbone)

Floating ribs

Function
Ribcage forms a protective cage for internal organs like heart and lungs.

All the bones of the

All the bones of the skull
skull are fixed and
are fixed and
immovable, except the
immovable, except the
lower jaw. The bone
lower jaw. The bone
present here is called
present here is called
the mandible.
the mandible.
 Backbone
The long bony central axis of the skeleton that provides support to the body is
known as the vertebral column or spine. Human spinal column is made up of 33
bones called vertebrae. They are separated by the intervertebral disc.

Function
The vertebral column protects the delicate spinal cord.

Upper limbs and Shoulder girdle

Two collarbones and two shoulder bones

form the shoulder girdle. Shoulder girdle
joins the upper limbs to the spine. Each arm
consists of one upper arm bone called
humerus and two lower arm bones called
radius and ulna.

The human hand has 27 bones. The wrist

accounts for 8 bones; palm contains 5 bones;
the remaining 14 bones make up fingers of
the hand.

Lower limbs and hip girdle

The hip girdle is made up of three bones

fused together to form a single born.There
are two hip bones which connect the spine
with the lower limbs.

Each leg has one thigh bone known as femur

and two other bones and a knee cap.The knee
cap protects the knee joint from getting
hurt .Each ankle consists of 7 bones and 19
Femur
bones are present in each foot.
Ligaments, cartilage and tendons

Ligaments
Bones are held together by Ligament

strong bands of flexible tissue

made up of fibre like structure
called ligaments.

Cartilage
Cartilage is a smooth elastic
tissue that covers and protects
the ends of the bones at joints.
Cartilage protects the bones
from wear and tear.
It also forms the nose and the
external ear.

Tendons
Tough band of fibrous tissue
that connects muscles to bones,
allowing us to move.
 Joints
A joint is a place where two or more bones join together.

Types of joints

Movable joints Immovable joints

Joints that allow movement is called
movable joints.
Movable joints contain a lubricating liquid
to reduce the friction between the bones.
Eg: hinge joint, ball and socket joint
Joints that do not allow any kind of
movement is called immovable joint.
Eg: joints of cranium

Movable joints

Different types of movable joints are:

Hinge joint
Pivot joint
Ball and socket joint
Sliding/gliding joint
Pivot joint
Joint that is found between the skull and
the first two vertebrae of the spine. It
helps in the movement of our head in
upward, downward and sideways direction.
Eg: Joints between the skull and first two Pivot joint
vertebrae

Ball and socket joint

A bone that is round at its end fits into
the socket or hollow of another bone is
called the ball and socket joint.
Eg: hip and shoulder joint
Shoulder joint

Hinge joint Knee joint

Joints that allow movement of bones in
only one direction are called the hinge
joints.
Eg: elbow and knee joint

Sliding/gliding joint
Joints that allow the bones to slide or
glide past one another is called the gliding
joints. These joints allow movements in up,
down, left, right and diagonal directions.
Eg: wrist and ankle joint

Wrist joint

Find out how….

 Muscles
Bones are covered with tissues called muscles. The contraction and relaxation of
muscles produce movement in the body.

Types of muscles
Voluntary muscles-The movement of these muscles can be controlled.
They have cross striations or stripes. So, they are known as
striped/striated muscles.
Eg: Skeletal muscles- muscles that are attached to the bones like biceps
and triceps. The skeletal muscles pull bones only in one direction so they
always work in pairs.

Skeletal muscles

Involuntary muscles-These are the muscles that work on their own and we
have no control over their movement.
Eg: cardiac muscles and smooth muscles.

Involuntary muscles

Cardiac muscles
Muscles present in our heart are known
as cardiac muscles. They work all the
time whether we are asleep or awake.
Cardiac muscles pump blood to the
different parts of our body. They are
involuntary, striated muscles.

Smooth muscles
Involuntary muscles found in the
stomach, intestine etc are called
smooth muscles. These muscles
contract and relax for the movement
of food in the body. These muscles are
non-striated or unstriped muscles.
(involuntary, non-striated muscles)