Musculoskeletal System: Three Types of Machines in Producing Movement

What are the three types of machines found in the arrangement of our musculoskeletal system?

the lever

the pulley

the wheel and axle

The musculoskeletal system, which consists of the muscles and the skeleton, forms three types of simple machines that aid in producing movement. These are: the lever, the pulley, and the wheel and axle.

All three of these types of machines transfer force and movement. The lever is represented in the body through bones (the lever) and joints (the fulcrum). For example, when you bend your elbow, the forearm acts as the lever, the elbow joint is the fulcrum, and the biceps muscle provides the effort.

The pulley system is created with the help of ropes (tendons) and pulleys (joints). An example is when the tendons in your fingers pull and create movement. Finally, the wheel and axle machine style is seen in the rotational movement of the forearm, with the radius and ulna acting as the wheel and the skeletal muscle as the motor.