Musculoskeletal

The musculoskeletal system (MSK) is an organ system that gives animals the ability to physically move, by using the muscles and skeletal system. Apart from locomotion, the skeleton also lends support and protects internal organs. In many organisms the skeleton is also used to store fat and minerals, and to produce blood cells.

Solid musculoskeletal system
The human musculoskeletal system consist of the human skeleton, made by bones attached to other bones with joints, and skeletal muscle attached to the skeleton by tendons. In most animals with solid skeletons, yellow bone marrow is used to store energy for the muscles and the red marrow produces blood cells and that carries oxygen to the body..

Hydrostatic musculoskeletal system
Among others, cnidarians and annelids, have a hydrostatic skeletons that is similar to a water-filled balloon, these animals can move by contracting the muscles surrounding the fluid-filled pouch, creating pressure within the pouch that causes movement. Animals such as earthworms use their hydrostatic skeletons to change their body shape as they move forward. from long and skinny to short and stumpy. Arthropoda have their muscles attached to an exoskeleton.

Musculoskeletal structures co-evolved with appropriate brain structures so that the complete unit functions together in a constructive and adaptive fashion (Edelman, 1989). The entire systems of muscles, joints, and proprioceptive and kinaesthetic functions plus parts of the brain evolve and function together in a unitary way (Kelso, 1995).

Books

 * Edelman, GM 1989, The remembered present : a biological theory of consciousness. Basic Books, New York.
 * Kelso, JAS 1995, Dynamic patterns : the self-organization of brain and behavior. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.

Papers
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