2015-08-21
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The musculoskeletal system includes the bones, muscles, and joints. Each has several important functions in the body. Bones, by providing the framework around which the body is constructed, protect and support our internal organs. Also, by serving as a point of attachment for muscles, bones assist in body movement. The inner core of bones is composed of hematopoietic tissue (red bone marrow manufactures blood cells), while other parts are storage areas for minerals necessary for growth, such as calcium and phosphorus.
Joints are the places where bones come together. Several different types of joints are found within the body. The type of joint found in any specific location is determined by the need for greater or lesser flexibility of movement.
Muscles, whether attached to bones or to internal organs and blood vessels, are responsible for movement. Internal movement involves the contraction and relaxation of muscles which are a part of viscera, and external movement is accomplished by the contraction and relaxation of muscles which are attached to bones.
