Common Types of Muscular and Skeletal Disorders and How They Affect the Body
Before we delve straight into the topic of muscle and skeletal system diseases, it is essential to gain some idea about the musculoskeletal system. Doing so, you will be able to grasp the concept easily and will be able to proceed with the same effortlessly.
On that note, let us find out more about the system mentioned above and some associated disorders below.
What is the Musculoskeletal System?
It is a system in a human body which comprises – bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, connective tissues, etc. In a broader sense, the muscles of a human body can be divided into three parts, namely – skeletal muscles, smooth muscles and cardiac muscles.
Notably, both skeletal muscles and smooth parts are a part of this system. Together, the musculoskeletal system ensures these following functions –
Facilitates movement
Maintains posture
Facilitates blood circulation
Provides structure to the body
Protects organs
Take a look at this image below to gain a better idea about the musculoskeletal system.
Though the muscle system and the skeletal system are two distinct systems, they are closely dependent on one another.
Keeping that in mind, let us move straight to skeletal and muscular disorders.
Musculoskeletal System Diseases
Most muscular and skeletal system diseases occur due to excessive wear and tear of muscles and other skeletal components. Also, both systems are susceptible to diseases and also react to the degradation of our everyday lifestyle.
These following pointers highlight some of the most common diseases of skeletal muscle disease and disorders.
Muscular System Diseases
Here are some commonly found muscular system disorders -
Sprain and Strain
These are among the most common muscular system disorders. Sprain often occurs due to ligament injury or twist of joints; however, in such cases there is no dislocation of the joint. On the other hand, when compared to sprain, a strain is relatively less painful.
Tetany
It is mostly recognised as the uncontrollable twitching of muscles and is often caused due to nutritional deficiencies, nervous system disorder or infections.
Muscular Dystrophy
Typically, it is a genetic disorder which causes progressive deterioration of muscles and makes them weak. Over the years, it makes one lose the ability to move or make smooth gestures.
Myasthenia Gravis
It is an autoimmune disease wherein antibodies affect one’s nerves and hamper the ability to generate muscular contractions. The muscles of the neck and face are said to be affected the most.
Skeletal Muscle Diseases
These are some common skeletal muscle disorders -
Arthritis
It is most commonly found among the elderly and is mostly classified as a disease of joints. Typically, there are several types of arthritis like rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and infectious arthritis. Notably, the cause for each of arthritis tends to differ from the others.
Osteoporosis
A low rate of mineral density in bones is often the cause of osteoporosis. It is one of those skeletal diseases and disorders which are more common in women than in men. It also makes them more prone to fractures.
Dislocation and Fracture
A break in a bone is termed as a fracture, whereas displacing a bone from its original position is dislocation. Usually, unnatural position and injury are among the major causes of fractures and dislocations.
Spondylitis
It is a group of disorders which tend to affect the spine and hamper the smooth functioning of skeletal muscle.
Osteomalacia and Rickets
Osteomalacia is caused due to vitamin D deficiency in adults, while rickets occurs because of the same in children. Also, the lack of adequate calcium and phosphorus in bones can lead to these diseases.
Fun Fact: Did you know that almost 15% of the population in India suffers from arthritis?
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FAQs on Muscular and Skeletal Disorders Explained for Students
1. What are disorders of the muscular and skeletal system?
Disorders of the muscular and skeletal system are conditions that affect your bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissues like ligaments and tendons. These disorders can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced movement. Common examples covered in the CBSE syllabus include Myasthenia gravis, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and Gout.
2. What is Myasthenia Gravis and why is it classified as an autoimmune disorder?
Myasthenia Gravis is a muscular disorder that causes fatigue and weakness in skeletal muscles. It is classified as an autoimmune disorder because the body's own immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that block or destroy neurotransmitter receptors (specifically, acetylcholine receptors) at the neuromuscular junction, preventing muscle contraction.
3. What is the main difference between Tetany and Muscular Dystrophy?
The key difference lies in their cause and nature. Tetany is a disorder characterized by rapid, involuntary muscle spasms or cramps, typically caused by low calcium levels in the body fluid. In contrast, Muscular Dystrophy is a group of genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass over time due to the lack of a critical muscle protein called dystrophin.
4. How does a deficiency in Vitamin D or calcium lead to Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder where bones become weak and brittle due to decreased bone mass. Vitamin D is essential for the body to absorb calcium from the diet. A deficiency in either Vitamin D or calcium means less material is available to build and maintain strong bones. This imbalance leads to the body breaking down more bone tissue than it creates, increasing the risk of fractures.
5. What is Arthritis and what are its common examples?
Arthritis is a general term for inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness. It is a common skeletal system disorder. The main examples include:
- Osteoarthritis: A degenerative disease where the cartilage at the ends of bones wears down.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the lining of the joints (synovial membrane).
- Gout: Caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in a joint, leading to intense inflammation.
6. How is the underlying cause of Gout different from that of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
While both are types of arthritis, their causes are fundamentally different. Gout is a metabolic disorder resulting from the deposition of sharp uric acid crystals in the joints, often the big toe, due to high levels of uric acid in the blood. In contrast, Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues, specifically the synovial membranes that line the joints, leading to chronic inflammation.
7. Why is Muscular Dystrophy considered a progressive genetic disorder?
Muscular Dystrophy is considered a progressive genetic disorder because it is caused by mutations in the genes responsible for producing proteins essential for muscle structure and function, primarily dystrophin. Since it is genetic, it is inherited. It is 'progressive' because the absence of these vital proteins leads to a gradual, ongoing cycle of muscle fibre damage and death, resulting in increasing weakness and disability over an individual's lifetime.
8. What are the key disorders of the muscular and skeletal system listed in the CBSE Class 11 Biology syllabus for 2025-26?
As per the official CBSE syllabus for the 2025-26 academic year, the main disorders of the muscular and skeletal systems that students need to understand are:
- Myasthenia gravis
- Tetany
- Muscular dystrophy
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Gout
