Musculoskeletal Structure and Movement

This unit examines human adaptation to environments and the mechanical principles that underlie movement, focusing on bone composition, joint structure, and muscular function. It builds on introductory anatomy concepts and prepares students for applied topics such as movement assessment, injury prevention, and rehabilitation in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how environmental factors and human adaptations (e.g., temperature, gravity, repetitive loading) influence posture and movement patterns using case examples.
• Apply basic biomechanics principles (levers, torque, center of mass, and force) to predict movement outcomes and propose movement modifications for improved efficiency or safety.
• Demonstrate knowledge of bone composition and function by identifying major bone types and microstructures, explaining bone remodeling and mineral roles, and relating these to bone health.
• Evaluate joint types and muscular actions by classifying joints by structure and range of motion, describing agonist/antagonist relationships, and designing simple exercise or modification strategies that target specific muscles while protecting joints.