Musculoskeletal System Overview

What this page covers

This unit page brings together material on the whole musculoskeletal system. The mind map Anatomy & Physiology sketches the skeletal and muscular systems, including the functions of bone and the main bone shapes such as long, short, irregular and sesamoid bones. Other maps zoom in on the vertebral column, the shoulder, joints and normal bone structure. A few follow clinical cases, such as a painful knee or a fracture in the arm.

Where to start

Begin with a broad overview, then narrow down.

1. Open the mind map Anatomy & Physiology to see the big picture.
2. Read the note Bone, muscle. Lecture 1, which lists five functions of the skeleton and separates the axial and appendicular skeletons.
3. Take the quiz Musculoskeletal System for NCCQ to check the basics: bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

Going deeper

Once the overview feels familiar, pick a specific structure. The mind map Tendons covers how tendons connect muscle to bone. The flashcard decks Joints and Tendons & ligaments test the categories of joint, the types of connective tissue and the makeup of the extracellular matrix. For muscles, the shoulder, neck and arm deck covers origins, insertions and actions. Quizzes such as AAOS anatomy bring in orthopedic questions, and the list includes a deck named UWorld Anatomy for those preparing for the USMLE.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then close it and take a quiz on the same topic. Whatever you miss tells you which branch to reread. Flashcards then help you memorize names, origins and insertions. Repeat the loop for each region of the body.

Where this unit sits

This page is the Musculoskeletal System Overview unit, part of the Musculoskeletal System strand in Anatomy. Everything listed was made by GoConqr users, so titles and styles vary. Choose one resource that matches what you are studying today, open it, and see how far it takes you.