The skeleton system and the muscular system are two separate entities of the body but they are generally studied together because usually they always work in coordination for all the basic functions of movement and support to the body. The skeleton or the bony system provides the framework for the body. It also protects all the vital organs of the body. It provides a base for attachment of the muscles and permits different movements of the body.

The human skeleton consists of two hundred and six bones and many cartilages. It can be divided into two parts the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The part of the skeleton that forms the axis around which the body is supported is called the axial skeleton. The backbone, the head, the chest are all parts of the axial skeleton. The appendages that arise from the axial skeleton form the appendicular skeleton.

The bones of the head and the face form the skull. The bones of the head form the cranium and there is an opening at the back of the head that is known as the foramen magnum through this the spinal chord emerges. The backbone consists of thirty three bones called the vertebrae. It is the main axis to which all the other bones are attached. It keeps the body erect and protects the delicate spinal chord which runs in the central cavity of the vertebrae. The bones of the chest form the ribcage. The breast bone is called the sternum. Twelve pairs of ribs form the bony thorax. Within the thoracic cavity lie the vital circulatory and respiratory organs like the heart and the lungs.

The appendicular skeleton consists of bones of limbs and the girdles by which they are attached to the axial skeleton. The pectoral girdle connects the upper limbs and the pelvic girdle connects the lower limbs.

The muscles are attached to the bones and facilitate movement of the body. All the movements of the body whether they are voluntarily controlled or not involve some muscles or the other. There are three types of muscles voluntary muscles, involuntary muscles and the cardiac muscles. The voluntary muscles are also called the striated muscles. Their movement is under the control of conscious will of an individual. They receive the nerve supply from the voluntary nervous system. The muscles of arms and legs are typical examples of this type of muscles.

The involuntary muscles are the muscles whose functioning is independent of conscious human will. All the organic functions are conducted by muscles that are involuntary in nature. The cardiac muscles are also basically involuntary in function but since they support the most vital organ of the body, the heart. They have extra strength to work non stop without any rest or relaxation throughout the life span of an individual.

All the body movements whether they are voluntary or involuntary are a result of coordinated functioning of the muscles and the nerves. This coordinated activity is called muscular coordination. The bones support them in this action by providing the basic framework.

The movement brings about exhaustion of the muscles. This is because with movement the energy content of the muscles depletes and muscles cells get filled up with waste products by many biochemical processes which produce carbon dioxide and water as waste products, which have to be duly removed by the steady blood flow.

These days many bone chronic degenerative diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis are striking the people. The main reasons for these are given in details in the section of Yoga for Lifestyle Disorders. The main reason for these is oxidative stress and also genetic factors play an important role.

Yoga Asanas or Yoga Exercises for Musculo Skeletal System

Most of the people today suffer with lower back pain. It has become a situation with almost everyone. The main reason attributed to this is the habit of being in a wrong posture with not any exercising of the system. Yoga can prove to be an excellent methodology that can be easily adapted into the daily discipline. Please refer to the section of Yoga in Daily Life for more details. Yogic asanas or yoga exercises are not just bodily exercises but they provide exercise and relaxation to the entire system, and at the same time strengthen the basic infrastructure of the bones and muscles. Please see the section of Yoga Asanas for details about all the yogic asanas and how they can prove to be extremely beneficial to the entire system.

The yogic practice of yoga nidra can be extremely helpful in giving complete relaxation to all the different types of muscles, many of which keep working all throughout the lifespan and conduct all the basic functions of the system.

The practice of meditation helps a person to direct the thought process inwards. This is very beneficial because by doing this a person is able to look deep within him and change and grow all his inner faculties. The higher forms of Raj yoga prefer meditation as a regular practice rather than Hatha yoga and they derive amazing benefits from them. Thus all the practices of yoga benefit the musculo-skeletal system immensely.