Skeletal System

• What does the skeleton do?

  Supports the body and allows movement.

  Enables vertebrates to survive by protecting vital organs

  Regulating the endocrine system

  Produces blood cells and stores calcium
• What does the skeleton store?

  Calcium
• What does the skeleton produce?

  Red blood cells
• What does the axial skeleton consist of?

  Head and trunk, skull, cranium etc.
• Function of the axial skeleton?

  Protects the vital organs

  Surface area to allow muscles to attach

  Permits limited movement
• What does the appendicular skeleton consist of?

  All other bones - arms and legs
• Function of appendicular skeleton?

  Allows movement of the body
• What is the first vertebrae called?

  Atlas
• What is the function of the atlas?

  Provides a large surface area for muscle attachment to Supports nodding motion of the head.
• What is the second vertebrae known as?

  Axis
• What is the function of the axis?

  Support and Allows head to rotate
• What is the vertebral column also known as?

  Axial Skeleton
• How is skeletal muscle attached to bones?

  By collagen fibres known as tendons
• What is the function of skeletal muscle?

  Allows movement

  A large surface area for muscle attachment

  High mitochondria content for providing energy for movement via contraction and relaxation of muscle
• What is sliding filament theory?

  Muscles contract quickly in response to stimulus where small fibres of muscle known as myofibrils slide in and out between each other for muscle contraction

  However the muscle can tire easily!
• Which type of animals are specially evolved?

  Running mammals- cheetahs/horses

  Hopping mammals- Rabbit

  Aquatic mammals- cetaceans=whales

  Flying mammals- birds/bats
• Why are cheetahs vertebrae curved?

  For flexibility and extension when running for prey

  Allows front and back legs to overlap for spring action

  Vertebrae articulate and continue to tail aiding with balance, steering and quick turns at high speeds
• Why do the hips of a cheetah pivot?

  Allows rear legs to stretch further apart
• How are the fore and hind legs adapted?

  Shoulder blade does not attach to collar bone allowing for greater flexibility

  Upper leg muscles are attached to shoulder blade for free movement
• How are cheetahs sinuses adapted?

  large nasal cavities to allow maximum oxygen intake and airflow into the lungs
• How are cheetahs teeth adapted?

  Small teeth allow killing of prey through suffocating throat and allow for slender prey to be easily torn apart
• How is the Cheetahs spine/ vertebrae adapted

  Flexibility/ curves when sprinting to catch prey

  Allows more extension during running to catch prey

  Allows their front/ back legs to overlap to make a spring action to catch prey

  Vertebrae articulate and continue to end of the tail aiding in balance/ steering/ quick turns at high speeds
• Cheetah Hips Adaptations 


  Pivot to allow the rear legs to stretch further apart
• Cheetah Fore and Hind Legs Adaptations

  Have long slender bones for increased stride
• Why do Cheetahs have no collar bone?

  The shoulder blade does not attach to collar bone allowing for greater flexibility/ free movement

  Upper leg muscles attached to shoulder blade allowing for greater flexibility
• Cheetah- Large Sinuses/ nasal cavities 


  Allow maximum airflow/ higher rates of oxygen intake to lungs
• Cheetah Small Teeth Adaptations

  Killing prey through suffocating throat hold rather than spine severing bite

  Prey can be easily torn apart slender prey