MOVEMENT AND LOCOMOTION IN ANIMALS AND HUMANS

• The ability to move in animals is made possible by the combination of a semi rigid skeletal system with joints that act as hinges and a muscular system attached that can pull on this skeleton.
• Muscular action produces a change in body shape, which places a force on different parts of the outside environment, for example, when a horse runs, its feet contact the ground, the force they exert moves its body forward rapidly.
• When a bird takes off into flight, its wings exert force on the air and a swimming fish movements push against the water.
• The nature of the muscular and skeletal systems allows movement in animals.