Musculoskeletal system
The musculoskeletal system includes bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. These structures work together to support the body and make movement possible.
In everyday words
Standing up from a chair involves muscles producing force, tendons transmitting it, and bones moving at joints. Several parts of the system contribute to one everyday action.
What to keep in mind
MSK is a common abbreviation. Musculoskeletal describes a broad group of tissues; it is not a specific diagnosis or a measure of symptom severity.