Learn Disorders of Human Skeletal and Muscular Systems

We have normally seen people in their mid 50’s complaining about muscle pain and joint pains. These are actually caused by several disorders of human skeletal and muscular systems. With growing age, our bones and muscles become weak, which causes many diseases. Sometimes these disorders are natural and happen due to ageing, but sometimes they may happen due to hard work or pressure on muscles and joints like hard and excessive exercise or lifting heavyweights. In this article, we will go through the causes, symptoms, and preventions of disorders of the human skeletal and muscular system.

What is the Skeletal System?

The skeletal system consists of a central framework of bones, cartilages, tendons, and ligaments. This system is responsible for movement, protection for internal organs and also provides shape to the body.

Fig: Human Skeletal System

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What is the Muscular System?

The muscular system is an organ system that is composed of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles. It is responsible for maintaining posture, locomotion and controlling the beating of the heart and the movement of food through the digestive systems. This system is closely associated with the skeletal system in aiding movement.

Fig: Human Muscular System

Significance of Human Skeletal System

The significance of human skeletal systems are as follows:

1. The human skeletal system helps in maintaining a correct posture in the body.
2. It helps as a support structure in the body.
3. It gives shape to the body.
4. It helps in the movement.
5. It helps in the production of blood cells.
6. It gives protection to the internal organs and stores minerals.

Significance of Human Muscular System

The significance of human muscular systems are as follows:

1. The human muscular system allows movement in the body.
2. It provides stability to the joints.
3. It controls heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.
4. It helps us to speak and chew.
5. It helps to pump blood throughout the body.

Common Disorders of Human Skeletal Systems

Some of the common disorders of the human skeletal system are described below:

1. Arthritis

It is a type of common disorder of the joints which is mainly found in elderly people. It involves the inflammation and tenderness of one or more joints. Arthritis has many different forms. The most common forms are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, infectious arthritis, etc. It is mainly found in the areas of the body like feet, hands, hips, knees, lower back. It is most common in women.

Causes:
1. Genetic history
2. Overweight
3. Normal wear and tear of tissues
4. Viral infections
5. Previous joint injury
6. Autoimmune response

Symptoms:
1. Joint pain
2. Stiffness
3. Swelling
4. Redness of the skin.
5. The range of motion is decreased.

Treatments:
The treatment may differ depending on the type of arthritis.

1. Uses of painkillers like acetaminophen, tramadol, oxycodone, etc., may reduce the pain but do not have any effect on inflammation.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce both pain and inflammation.
3. Rubbing some varieties of menthol or ointment creams on the skin may block the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself.
4. Physiotherapy may be helpful in some types of arthritis. Exercises can also improve the range of motion and strengthen the muscles.
5. Sometimes use of heating pads, or ice packs may help in relieving arthritis pain.
6. In severe cases, doctors can suggest surgeries.

2. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a very common bone disease caused due to reduced mineral density in bones. The bones become weak and are at greater risk of fractures. It is more common in women.

Fig: Osteoporosis

Causes:
1. Deficiency of vitamin D and calcium
2. Over-activity of thyroid and parathyroid glands
3. Family history
4. Lack of physical activity
5. Overweight
6. Ethnicity, as some of the research, shows Caucasian and Asian women are more prone to osteoporosis.

Symptoms:
There are no symptoms at the early stage. So it is called a silent disease. Some may experience symptoms like:

1. Sudden back pain
2. Bone pain or tenderness, joint pain
3. Low energy fracture
4. Loss of height over time
5. Stooped posture
6. Abnormal curvature of the spine
7. Shortness of breath

Treatments:
1. Hormone or hormone-related therapy
2. Intake of calcium and vitamin D in the diet
3. Exercise
4. Medications like bisphosphonates, biologics, monoclonal antibodies, anabolic agents can be taken if prescribed by the doctor.

3. Spondylitis

Spondylitis is a disorder of the skeletal system. It is caused due to inflammation of our spinal bones or vertebrae. It normally begins in early adulthood, and its reduction of spine flexibility results in a hunched forward posture.

Causes:
1. Normal wear and tear of ageing
2. Muscle injury or tension
3. Awkward position of postures
4. Genetic factors
5. Overweight

Symptoms:
1. Pain radiates down into the shoulder, arm, and hand
2. Abnormal sensation of numbness or tingling
3. Limited range of motion
4. Stiffness
5. Fatigue
6. Stooped posture
7. Headaches

Treatments:
1. Medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injection, and oral corticosteroids
2. Stretching and physiotherapy
3. Physical exercise
4. Surgery in severe condition

4. Osteomalacia and Rickets

Osteomalacia and rickets affect the growth of bone in adults and children, respectively. This disease may result in bone pain, poor growth of bones, and soft and weak bones.

Causes:
1. Deficiency of Vitamin D and Calcium
2. Genetic Factors
3. Kidney or liver disorders
4. Certain surgeries
5. Consumption of drugs
6. Premature birth

Symptoms:
1. Muscle weakness
2. Poor growth and development
3. Skeletal deformities
4. Dental problems
5. Bone pain
6. Fractures due to fragile bones.
7. Muscle cramps

Treatments:
1. Medications like vitamin and dietary supplements
2. Eating more foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D

Common Disorders of Human Muscular Systems

1. Muscular dystrophy

A muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic diseases that are caused due to progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In this, the abnormal genetic mutation may lead to muscle degeneration.

Fig: Muscular Dystrophy

Causes:
1. Genetic mutation

Symptoms:
1. Pain and stiffness in the muscles.
2. Loss of muscle mass
3. Difficulty in breathing
4. Difficulty in walking
5. Waddling gait
6. Learning disabilities
7. Frequent falls
8. Curvature of the spine

Treatments:
1. Medications like corticosteroids, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or beta-blockers
2. Breathing aids
3. Surgeries
4. General exercises
5. Braces

2. Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis causes weakness in the skeletal muscle. It is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease that occurs due to communication impairment between nerve cells and muscles.

Fig: Myasthenia Gravis

Causes:
1. Defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscle
2. Infections

Symptoms:
1. Weakness of arm and leg muscle
2. Weakness of the eye muscle
3. Difficulty in chewing and swallowing
4. Difficulty in breathing
5. Difficulty with speech
6. Double vision
7. Facial paralysis

Treatments:
1. Medications like corticosteroids, cholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressants can be taken on the recommendation of the doctor.
2. Intravenous therapy like plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, monoclonal antibodies can be used to treat.
3. Surgery like thymectomy (removal of the thymus gland) can be done.

3. Tetany

Tetany is a muscular disorder that consists of the involuntary contraction of muscles. An increase in the action potential frequency of muscle cells or the nerves that innervate them is caused by this disorder.

Fig: Tetany

Causes:
1. Imbalance of an electrolyte
2. Low calcium level
3. Deficiency of magnesium and potassium
4. Increase of acid and alkali in the body
5. Kidney failure
6. Problem with the pancreas

Symptoms:
1. Muscle cramps and contractions
2. Shortness of breath
3. Seizures
4. Heart problems
5. Numbness in hands and feet

Treatments:
1. Intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements
2. Vaccinations
3. Antibiotics
4. Antitoxins

Preventive Measures to Avoid Disorders of Human Skeletal and Muscular Systems

To avoid the disorders of the human skeletal and muscular systems, we can follow the below given preventive measures:

1. Stretching exercise to maintain strength and balance of the body.
2. Including healthy food in the diet.
3. Maintaining a healthy weight.
4. Reduce stress.
5. Changes in work method.
6. Wearing lightweight and comfortable shoes while walking.
7. Absorb sunlight.
8. Smoking and consumption of alcohol should be avoided.
9. Take proper rest.
10. Maintain proper posture.

Fig: Some tips for a healthy Musculoskeletal System

Summary

Disorders of the human skeletal and muscular system are common among humans. They are the reasons for many diseases which may occur due to ageing. There are many more factors that may be the causes of these disorders like overweight, hard exercise or lifting heavyweight, etc. In the era of a fast and unrestful lifestyle, these disorders have become very common, and a large number of the population is affected by diseases of muscles and joints.

Some of the common diseases of the human skeletal system are arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylitis, etc. Our muscular system is also commonly affected by diseases like muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, etc. As most of these disorders are long-term, we should protect ourselves from all these diseases by taking proper precautions and by consulting the doctor.

FAQs

Q.1. Name the most common disease in the skeletal system.
Ans: The most common diseases in the skeletal system are arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylitis, osteomalacia, and rickets, etc.

Q.2. Name the most common disease in the muscular system.
Ans: The most common diseases in the muscular system are sprain and strain, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, tetany, etc.

Q.3. What do you mean by rickets?
Ans: Rickets affects the growth of bone in children. It is mainly caused due to deficiency of calcium or vitamin D in the diet.

Q.4. Write symptoms of arthritis?
Ans:  The symptoms of arthritis are joint pain, stiffness, swelling, redness of the skin, etc.

Q.5. Write causes of osteoporosis?
Ans: The causes of osteoporosis are deficiency of vitamin D and calcium, lack of physical activity, overweight, family history, etc.

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