The musculoskeletal system provides form, stability, and movement to the human body. It consists of the body's bones Bones Bone, although strong, is a constantly changing tissue that has several functions. Bones serve as rigid structures to the body and as shields to protect delicate internal organs. They provide... read more 
(which make up the skeleton), muscles Muscles There are three types of muscles: Skeletal Smooth Cardiac (heart) Two of these kinds—skeletal and smooth—are part of the musculoskeletal system. read more , tendons Tendons and Bursae Tendons are tough bands of connective tissue made up mostly of a rigid protein called collagen. Tendons firmly attach each end of a muscle to a bone. They are often located within sheaths, which... read more , ligaments Ligaments Ligaments are tough fibrous cords composed of connective tissue that contains both collagen and elastic fibers. The elastic fibers allow the ligaments to stretch to some extent. Ligaments surround... read more , joints Joints Joints are the junctions between two or more bones. Some joints do not normally move, such as those located between the plates of the skull. Other joints allow a large and complex range of motion... read more , cartilage, and other connective tissue. The term "connective tissue" is used to describe the tissue that supports and binds tissues and organs together. Its chief components are collagen and elastic fibers, which are composed of different proteins.
The musculoskeletal system undergoes many changes as people age ( see Effects of Aging on the Musculoskeletal System Effects of Aging on the Musculoskeletal System From about age 30, the density of bones begins to diminish in men and women. This loss of bone density accelerates in women after menopause. As a result, bones become more fragile and are more... read more ).
Muscles and Other Tissues of the Musculoskeletal System
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