Unit 7: Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology in Sports

1. Definition and importance of Anatomy and Physiology in Exercise and Sports.

2. Functions of Skeletal System, Classification of Bones and Types of Joints.
3. Properties and Functions of Muscles.
4. Structure and Functions of Circulatory System and Heart.
5. Structure and Functions of Respiratory System.

Definition of anatomy

Anatomy is a science that deals with the structure of the body and the relationship between the body parts.

The word anatomy which is derived from the Greek words Ana which means apart and tomy meaning to cut.

Definition of physiology

Physiology is the study of responses of human body to the physical activity.

Physiology is derived from the Greek words physio which means nature and logio which means the study of.

Importance of Anatomy and Physiology

1. Helps in physical fitness 2. Provides knowledge about body structure

3. Provides knowledge about the functions of 4. Helps in selection of games:
various organs of body
5. Protects from sports injuries 6. Helps in the process of rehabilitation:
7. Helps in maintaining healthy body: 8. Helps to learn about individual differences
between male and female athletes:

Joint: a point where two or more bones are connected in the body in a manner that permits movement.

Cartilage: a form of connective tissue that is semi-rigid yet flexible. It is found in the joints and other places such
as the nose, throat, and ears.

Tendon: a strong piece of tissue in the body connecting a muscle to a bone.

Ligament: fibrous cords that bind the bones together at joints.

Functions of the Skeletal System

Axial skeleton – consists of the vertebral column, the rib cage, the skull, and the vertebra.

Appendicular skeleton – is attached to the axial skeleton. It is formed by the shoulder girdle, the pelvic girdle,
and the bones of the upper and lower limbs.

. 1. This skeletal system provides shape and support to the body.

2. It allows the body to create movement by forming the framework of the body, to which the muscles are
attached. The movement of the body happens due to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles.

3. Skeletal system provides protection to the soft internal organs. For example, our ribcage protects our heart and
lungs, same way our skull protects our brain.

4. The hard substance of the bones also serves as a store house of minerals.

5. Blood cells are also formed within the cavitation of the skeleton which is known as haemopoiesis.
 Classification of Bones

Long Bones: Short Bones: Flat Bones: Irregular Bones: Sesamoid Bones:
Bones are hard, Bones have a cube Bones are thin and Bones vary in shape Bones are Small and
dense bones that like shape with usually curved. and structure and round bones
provide strength, equal length, width They are composed therefore do not fit embedded in the
structure, and and thickness. of a central layer of into any other tendons. Its shape
mobility to the body spongy bone category (flat, short, looks like a sesame
between two outer or long). seed
layers of compact
bone. They form a
bony cage and help
in the protection of
soft internal organs.
JOINTS

A point where two or more bones are connected in the body.

Immovable Joints/ Slightly Movable Joints/ Freely Movable Joints/

Fibrous Joints Cartilaginous Joints Synovial Joints

Fibrous Joints – In this type of joint, the bones are united together by fibrous tissue and show little or no
movement. It found between the bones of the skull or the head. The skull bones of a foetus are unfused but after
birth, the bones slowly begin to fuse to become fixed, making the skull bones immovable to protect the brain
from impact.

Cartilaginous Joints – This type of joint unites two bones by the help of a cartilage. Very slight movement can
occur at these joints. For example, cartilage of the growing long bones and the cartilage between the ribs and the
sternum.

Synovial Joints - These are freely movable joints. These joints contain synovial fluid. They are mostly found in
the limbs.

SYNOVIAL JOINTS (FREELY MOVABLE JOINTS)

Hinge Joint Gliding Joint Condyloid Joint

Ball and Socket Pivot Joint Saddle Joint

1. Ball and socket joint: The ball and socket joint is a type of synovial joint. It is formed when the ball-shaped
head of one bone fits into the cup-like socket or depression of another bone. It allows the greatest range of
movement. These multi axial joints permit movement in all axes including rotation. e.g., hip joint and shoulder
joint.

2. Hinge joint: The cylindrical end of one bone fits into a rough shaped surface of another bone. It allows a back-
and-forth movement like a hinge in the door. The bones are restricted to do an angular movement. For example,
movement of elbow and knee is the example of hinge joint.

3. Pivot joint: Pivot joint, also called rotary joint, it allows only rotary movement around a single axis. The
moving bone rotates within a ring that is formed by a second bone and adjoining ligament. For example, the joint
between the first and the second cervical vertebrae which allow the turning of the head from side to side.

4. Gliding joint: A gliding joint, also known as a plane joint, is formed between bones that meet at flat or nearly
flat articular surfaces. It allow the bones to glide past on one another in any direction along the plane of the joint
— up and down, left and right, and diagonally. For example, inter carpals or joints of the wrist.

5. Saddle joint: In the saddle joint, the articulating surface is shaped like a saddle, having both convex and
concave areas. The bones in a saddle joint can rock back and forth and from side to side, but they have limited
rotation. These biaxial joints allow very limited movement. For example, thumb joint.

6. Condyloid joint: In this joints the eggshaped articular surface of one bone fits into an oval cavity in another.
This joint allows the moving bone to travel from side to side, back and forth but it does not allow it to rotate.
Movement occurs only around two axes so they may be also called biaxial. For example, wrist joint, metacarpal,
phalangeal joint. This joint is useful when players use their wrist for dribbling the ball in basketball.

PROPERTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF MUSCLES

Muscles in our body are responsible for all movement as the movement in our body is either done by the
relaxation or the contraction of muscles. Types of Muscles:

A. Skeletal Muscle B. Smooth Muscle C. Cardiac Muscle

Skeletal muscles comprise Smooth muscles have elongated, slender, spindle Cardiac muscles are found
40% of the body weight. shaped cells. These muscles do not have striations. only in the heart where they
These muscles are attached They are also called involuntary muscles as their form the walls of the heart.
to the skeletal system with expansion or contraction is not under our control. They are long and striated
the help of tendons. They are found mostly in hollow organs such as but not as clearly striated as
These muscles are stomach, urinary bladder, and respiratory passages. skeletal muscles.
voluntary in nature which Smooth muscles are also present in the eyes,
means we can control them
at will.
FUNCTIONS OF MUSCLES

Movement: Muscles gives Maintenance of posture: Muscles Heat generation: Our muscles help us
strength to the body which helps us to maintain our body posture to maintain the body temperature.
helps in contraction and whether it is a sitting posture or a Whenever the body heat falls, skeletal
relaxation of the muscle for walking posture. muscles start contractions to bring it to
any kind of movement. normal. For example, when we shiver
the body’s mechanism brings our
temperature to normal.
Respiration: Our lungs have Constriction of organs and blood Pumping blood: Our heart pumps the
a muscle called diaphragm vessels: Nutrients move through our blood and the smooth muscles in our
where exchange of gases digestive tract, urine is passed out of veins and arteries bring the blood to
takes place. the body, and secretions are propelled heart from the cells and vice versa.
out of glands by contraction of smooth
muscles.
 PROPERTIES OF SKELETAL MUSCLES

Skeletal muscles have four major functional properties:

1. Excitability is the ability to respond to a stimulus, which may be delivered from a motor neuron or a hormone.
2. Contractility is the ability of muscle cells to forcefully shorten themselves, or the ability for self- contraction.
3. Extensibility is the ability of a muscle to stretch or the capacity to lengthen themselves.
4. Elasticity is the ability to recoil or bounce back to the muscle’s original length after being stretched.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM AND HEART

The circulatory system is responsible for the transportation of the oxygen, nutrients and gases with the help of
arteries and veins.

The Circulatory system consists of.

1. Heart: It is divided into four parts i.e., two pumping chambers known as ventricles and two receiving
chambers known as atria. The two sides of heart is separated by a thick muscular wall called the septum.

2. Blood vessels: Blood vessels include veins, arteries, and capillaries. Veins brings deoxygenated blood from the
cells to the heart. Arteries take the oxygenated blood from heart to the cells. Capillaries are the thin blood vessels
where exchange of nutrients and oxygen takes place.

 Arteries - blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart.
 Arterioles - a small branch of an artery leading into capillaries.
 Capillaries - any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and
venules.
 Venules - a very small branch of a vein, especially one collecting blood from the capillaries.
 Veins - blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart

3. Blood: Blood is the bodily fluid which carries all the nutrients and oxygen which have to be transported
throughout the body. It consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. Blood has red colour
because of a red pigment called as Haemoglobin present in it

 The pulmonary circulation is a short loop from the heart to the lungs and back again.
 The systemic circulation carries blood from the heart to all the other parts of the body and back again.

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Respiration is made up of two phases called inspiration and expiration:

 You inhale (breathe in) oxygen during inspiration.

 You exhale (breathe out) carbon dioxide during expiration.

Respiration includes the following processes:

 Ventilation, the movement of air into and out of the lungs

 Gas exchange between the air in the lungs and blood, sometimes called external respiration
 Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
 Gas exchange between the blood and the tissues, sometimes called internal inspiration.
The respiratory system consists of:

1. The Nose: The term nose usually refers to the visible structure that forms a prominent feature of the face and
refers to the internal nasal cavity.

2. The Nasal Cavity: It extends from the external opening in the nose to the pharynx, and it is divided by the
nasal septum into right and left side.

3. Pharynx: The pharynx is the common passageway of both the digestive and respiratory systems.

4. Larynx: The larynx consists of an outer casing of nine cartilages that are connected to each other by muscles
and ligaments. It is also known as Voice box.

5. Trachea: The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is a membranous tube that consists of connective tissues
and smooth muscles.

6. Bronchi: The trachea divides into the left and right primary bronchi. The main function of the bronchi, like
other conducting zone structures, is to provide a passageway for air to move into and out of each lung. In
addition, the mucous membrane traps debris and pathogens.

7. Bronchioles: Bronchioles, which are about 1 mm in diameter, further branch until they become the tiny
terminal bronchioles, which lead to the structures of gas exchange.

8. Lungs: The lungs are the principal organs of respiration. These spongy, pinkish organs look like two upside-
down cones in your chest. Lungs are divided into two parts Right lung: The right lung is made up of three lobes
Left lung: The left lung has only two lobes to make room for your heart.

9. Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a thin skeletal muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest. It contracts
and flattens when you inhale. This creates a vacuum effect that pulls air into the lungs. When you exhale, the
diaphragm relaxes, and the air is pushed out of lungs.

Questions:

1. Define Anatomy and Physiology.

2. What is skeletal system and how it’s useful to humans?

3. Short Note: Classification of bones based on shape & size.

5. Enlist the four major functional characteristics of the skeletal muscles.

6. What do you understand by the muscular system? Explain the structural classification of muscles.

7. What are the functions of respiratory system?

8. Describe the circulatory system.