Locomotion in Mammals

Introduction
In senior one, you learnt about locomotion as a form of movement in animals. In primary sci,ence, you learnt that the skeleton supports the body and muscle attachment to enable locomotion.
In this chapter, you will understand how muscles and the skeleton interact to produce movement in mammals.
7.1: The Human Skeleton
What is a skeleton? What do you think makes up a skeleton and what do you think is its role to the body. In Activity 7.1, you will discover the arrangement of bones and the role of the skeleton in supporting human body.
Activity 7.1: Discovering the arrangement of bones in the human skeleton

Introduction
In senior one, you learnt about locomotion as a form of movement in animals. In primary science, you learnt that the skeleton supports the body and muscle attachment to enable locomotion. In this chapter, you will understand how muscles and the skeleton interact to produce movement in mammals.
7.1: The Human Skeleton
What is a skeleton? What do you think makes up a skeleton and what do you think is its role to the body. In Activity 7.1, you will discover the arrangement of bones and the role of the skeleton in supporting human body.
Activity 7.1: Discovering the arrangement of bones in the human skeleton

Do this activity in a group.
Key question: Describe the general structure of the human skeleton.
What you need: Reference materials about the human skeleton, the Internet, video clip/simulation, model of a human
skeleton, manila papers, markers, recorded explanation on the human skeleton.
What to do:

1. Watch a video/simulation or study the model or listen to a recording about a structure of a human skeleton and
   i) Explain how different bones are arranged in a human body.
   ii) Using reference materials, draw a structure of a human skeleton on a manila paper and name the different bones found in it.
2. Use reference materials to find out the other functions of skeleton in mammals.
   Display your work at the back of the class and the let other pairs critique it.

From Activity 7.1, you have discovered the different bones that form the human skeleton. Each of these has a particular function.
In Activity 7.2, you will be able to discover the functions of the skeleton.
Activity 7.2: Discovering the functions of the skeleton in the body

Do this activity in a group.

Key question: What are the functions of a human skeleton?
What you need: the Internet, a notebook, a pen

What to do:

1. Research from the Internet or reference materials about the functions of the skeleton in the human body.
2. Find outthe particular functions ofthemain parts and fill the table below.

Share your work with the rest of the groups and make notes individually.
7.2: The Two Divisions of the Human Skeleton
The human skeleton is made up of the central/ main part known as axis and other parts attached to it known as appendages. In Activity 7.2, you will identify the two divisions of the human skeleton.

Activity 7.3: Identifying the two divisions of a human skeleton Do this activity in a pair.
Key question: What are the two divisions of the human skeleton?
What you need: A notebook, model/picture of a human skeleton.
What to do:

1. Study the model/ picture of the human skeleton and;
   i)Identify and label the two divisions of a skeleton.
   ii) Label the key components of the two divisions of the skeleton.
   Compare your work with that of another pair.

7.3: Bones of a Human Skeleton
The human skeleton is made up of several bones joined together by ligaments. Each bone in the skeleton performs a particular function. In Activity 7.4, you will identify and describe the bones of the human skeleton.
Activity 7.4: Identifying and locating the bones of the human skeleton
Do this activity in a group
Key question: What are the different types of the bones of a human
skeleton and their location?
What you need: A 3D model of a human skeleton, vertebral bones.
What to do:

1. The table below shows the types of bones of the human skeleton.
   Compete it by Identifying the examples in each type and their location.

2. Examine the vertebral bones provided and;
   i)Identify the cervical, lumbar and thoracic bones.
   ii) Draw and label each of the bones identified.
   Compare your responses with those of other groups.
   7.4: Action of Muscles in Movement
   The human body is made up of muscle tissues which are attached to the skeleton by tendons. The actions of the muscles are major in enabling movement. In Activity 7.5, you will understand how the actions of muscles
   cause movement in animals.
   Activity 7.5: Exploring how the actions of muscles cause movement in animals
   Do this activity in a pair.
   Key question: How do muscles bring about movement in animals?
   What you need: Reference materials about role of muscles in movement, a video showing movement of muscles in the arm, a notebook, a pen
   What to do:
3. Watch a video clip or simulation a bout movement of muscles in the arm or study the picture below and;

i) Describe the appearance of muscles when the arm is straight and when it is bent.

2. Assume you are Maria and your friend is Abdul.
   i) Let Abdul bend the arm and you touch and feel both the triceps and biceps. Note down your observations.
   ii) Let Abdul straighten the arm and you touch and feel both the biceps and triceps. Note down your observations.
3. From your observations, explain and write down how action of muscles bring about movement.

7.5: Joints of the Human Body
The action of muscles alone can not cause movement to occur. Imagine if the whole skeleton was a single bone, would there be effective movement? You now know that the skeleton is made up of several bones that are attached at certain points. These points are known as joints. Fig 7.3 and Fig7.4 are
examples of joints.

Activity 7.6: Exploring the actions of joints in movement
DO this activity in a pair.
Key question: What are the types of joints in a human skeleton?
What you need: Reference materials about joints of the human body, the
Internet, a notebook, a pen
What to do:

1. Stand up and swing your leg at the knee, note your observation.
2. Swing your leg from the hip area and note your observation.
3. How does the movement at the knee differ from movement at the hip?
4. Do research and name the type of joint at the knee and the type of joint
   at the hip.
5. Draw a table showing different joints and the type of movement that
   occurs at each joint shown.
   Discuss your work with the rest of the class.

7.6: Muscle Cramps
Have you ever experienced a sudden sharp pain often with a hard lump beneath the skin or heard someone say that he or she experienced it? This sharp pain is referred to as a muscle cramp.
In Activity 7.7, you will find out the causes, effects and preventive measures of muscle cramps.

Activity 7.7: Finding out the causes, effects and preventive measures of muscle cramps
Do this activity in a group.
Key question: What are the causes, effects and preventive measures of muscle cramps?
What you need: Reference materials about muscle cramps, resource person, a notebook, a pen, a questionnaire
What to do:

1. Interview an athlete or sports person who has ever experienced a
   muscle cramp. Ask him or her to:
   i) Explain how he/she felt.
   ii) Explain the effects of a muscle cramp.
   iii) Explain what he or she did to manage the cramp.
   iv) Describe the steps that sports people take during training to avoid
   muscle cramps.
2. Research and find out the causes, muscle cramps. Design an advisory leaflet explaining your findings about muscle cramps.
   Present your findings and the designed leaflet to the rest of the class.

In this chapter, you have learnt that:
1.The human skeleton is made up of several bones and plays an important role of supporting the human body. It is made up of axis and appendages as divisions
2.The human body is made up of muscle tissue which are attached to the skeleton by tendons and their actions enable movement
3.The joints are points at which bones attach and they too enable movement.
4.A muscle cramp is a sudden sharp pain beneath the skin caused by overuse of the muscle, dehydration or muscle strain

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