Anatomy of physical performance

P.E – The Anatomy Of Physical Performance




The human skeleton has 206 bones. Many of these, in combination with over 600 skeletal muscles, enable the human body to achieve a variety of actions, such as running, throwing, striking, jumping, pulling and pushing.



Joints are covered with compressible articular ( this is something that describes surfaces which move or hinge ), or hyaline cartilage, which cushions the impact of large forces on bone ends. Joint movements are varied. All skeletal bones and joints enable the body to carry out a vast range of complex movements demanded by a variety of differing physical and sporting situations.










The human skeleton has been created by evolution to perform the following functions:

To provide a lever system against which muscles can pull.
To provide a large surface area for the attachment of muscles.
To protect delicate organs (E.g.; the cranium protects the brain).
To give s...