Skeleton Structure (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE)): Revision Note

Structure of the skeleton

• The skeleton is a framework of bones; its role is to:

  • support the body

  • allow movement

• Joints are points of connection between two or more bones, e.g. the elbow joint connects the bones of the arm, and the knee joint connects the bones of the leg

  • At a joint, bone ends are covered with smooth cartilage and held together by ligaments, while tendons attach nearby muscles to move the joint

  • There are different types of joints, each allowing different kinds of movement

• The shape and size of the bones play an important role in their function

  • Long bones enable gross, or large-scale, movements such as running or standing up, e.g.:

    • the femur and tibia in the leg

    • the humerus in the arm

  • Short bones enable finer, controlled movement

    • E.g. the carpals, metacarpals and phalanges in the hand

  • Flat bones protect organs from damage, e.g.:

    • the ribs protect the lungs

    • the cranium protects the brain