Important Mechanical Properties of Bone for Muscle Function
(image courtesy of www.bmb.psu.edu)
Bone plays a very important role in muscle function via support and leverage.
Muscle attaches to bone at both ends; these attachments determine the action of the muscle. During a contraction, the muscle's concentric movement pulls the two attachment sites closer together creating movement of the limb. Thus the bone acts as a lever providing a mechanical advantage.
*If attachment is closer to joint, the muscle is limited greatly by the distance it can bend the limb
*If attachment is farther from the joint, the muscle can contract farther and the motion is greater.
