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Musculoskeletal System Flashcards
Free Anatomy Revision Cards
These free Anatomy flashcards cover the bones, joints, ligaments and muscles of the musculoskeletal system. A practical revision resource for nursing, medical and sport science students.
Question
What are the five main functions of the skeletal system?
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Answer
Support, protection of organs, movement (with muscles), blood cell production (haematopoiesis in red marrow), and mineral storage (calcium and phosphorus).
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Question
How many bones are in the adult human body?
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Answer
206 bones. Babies are born with around 270–300, which fuse during childhood and adolescence.
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Question
What is the difference between compact and spongy bone?
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Answer
Compact (cortical) bone is dense and forms the outer shell. Spongy (cancellous) bone is porous, found at the ends of long bones and inside flat bones — lighter but still strong.
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Question
What is the periosteum?
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Answer
A dense connective tissue membrane covering the outer surface of bones (except at joints). It contains nerves, blood vessels, and cells essential for bone growth and repair.
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Question
What is the medullary cavity?
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Answer
The hollow shaft of a long bone containing yellow bone marrow (mostly fat) in adults, and red marrow (blood cell production) in children.
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Question
What is an osteoblast and an osteoclast?
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Answer
Osteoblasts build new bone tissue. Osteoclasts break down (resorb) bone tissue. Together they maintain bone remodelling throughout life.
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Question
What are the four types of bone classified by shape?
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Answer
Long bones (e.g. femur), short bones (e.g. carpals), flat bones (e.g. skull), and irregular bones (e.g. vertebrae). Some classifications also include sesamoid bones (e.g. patella).
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Question
What is the axial skeleton?
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Answer
The central axis of the body — skull, vertebral column (33 vertebrae), sternum, and ribs (12 pairs). 80 bones in total.
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Question
What is the appendicular skeleton?
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Answer
The bones of the limbs and girdles — shoulder (pectoral) girdle, arms, pelvic girdle, and legs. 126 bones in total.
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Question
Name the five regions of the vertebral column and their vertebral counts.
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Answer
Cervical (7), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacral (5 fused = sacrum), Coccygeal (4 fused = coccyx).
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