Britannica
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Which organs and structures belong to the musculoskeletal system?
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human body
Vintage anatomy charts of the human body showing the skeletal and muscle systems.
The musculoskeletal system is a functional integration of the human skeleton and the muscle system, working together to provide support, protection, and movement for the body.1
The primary organs and structures include:
- Bones: The rigid framework of the body, categorized into the axial skeleton (such as the skull and vertebral column) and the appendicular skeleton (such as the limbs and girdles).1
- Skeletal Muscles: These striated muscles are anchored to the skeleton and contract to facilitate movement and maintain posture.12
- Tendons: Fibrous connective tissues that attach muscles to bones, often acting as springs to store and return energy during movement.123
- Ligaments: Bands of fibrous connective tissue that connect bones to other bones, providing stability to joints.14
- Cartilage: Specialized connective tissue, including articular cartilage, which covers the surfaces of bones within joints to allow for smooth motion and shock absorption.14
- Joints: The structures where bones articulate, allowing for varying degrees of movement depending on their anatomical design.43