IGCSE PE 0413 · Area 1 · Anatomy & Physiology

The Skeleton

The skeleton is the framework every other system hangs off. Cambridge tests it two ways: can you name and classify the bones, and can you explain what the skeleton does for a performer. Most students can do the first and lose marks on the second.

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Syllabus coverage

  • Functions of the skeleton: shape and support, muscle attachment for movement, protection, red blood cell production
  • The location and function of the named bones (cranium, clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges, ribs, pelvis, femur, tibia, fibula, patella, talus, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges)
  • Classify bones as long, short or flat

Part of the IGCSE PE 0413 syllabus 0413 / 0995.

ClavicleSternumHumerusRadius and ulnaCarpals and metacarpalsPelvisCraniumRibsFemurPatellaTibiaFibulaTarsals and metatarsalsBones are classified by shape as long, short or flat — and the shape tells you the job the bone does.
The named bones of the skeleton, with the long bones shown acting as levers for movement.

The four functions of the skeleton

Cambridge lists four functions. Learn them as a set of four — questions that ask you to "state" or "identify" functions are almost always worth one mark each, so a list of four is worth four marks.

The trick is that the same four functions sound different depending on whether you are asked to state them or explain them.

FunctionWhat it actually meansSporting example
Shape and supportGives the body its shape and holds it upright against gravityA gymnast holding a handstand — the skeleton provides the rigid frame
Muscle attachment for movementBones give muscles a place to attach, so a contracting muscle can pull on a bone and create movement at a jointThe quadriceps pull on the tibia to extend the knee when kicking a football
ProtectionHard bone shields the soft, vital organs underneath from impactThe cranium protects the brain in a rugby tackle; the ribs protect the heart and lungs in a maul
Red blood cell productionBone marrow inside bones makes red blood cells, which carry oxygenA trained performer needs a constant supply of red blood cells to carry oxygen to working muscles

The bones you must be able to name

Cambridge names 18 bones and bone groups. You need the location and the function of each, not just the name — so learn them against a body you can picture.

A useful way in: group them by region. Head and shoulders, arm, hand, torso, leg, foot.

RegionBonesFunction
HeadCraniumProtects the brain
ShoulderClavicle (collar bone), scapula (shoulder blade)Clavicle holds the shoulder away from the ribcage and anchors the arm; scapula provides a large, flat surface for muscle attachment and forms the socket of the shoulder
Upper armHumerusLong bone of the upper arm; forms the shoulder and elbow joints
ForearmRadius, ulnaThe radius allows the forearm to rotate (pronation and supination); the ulna forms the point of the elbow
HandCarpals, metacarpals, phalangesCarpals form the wrist, metacarpals the palm, phalanges the fingers — allowing grip on equipment
TorsoRibs, pelvisRibs protect the heart and lungs and assist breathing through their attachment to the intercostal muscles; the pelvis supports the lower body, protects the reproductive and lower abdominal organs and transfers weight from the upper body to the legs
Upper legFemur, patellaFemur is the longest and strongest bone — it carries the body's weight and produces powerful movement; the patella protects the knee joint
Lower legTibia, fibulaTibia bears the body's weight; the fibula provides muscle attachment and stability at the ankle
FootTalus, tarsals, metatarsals, phalangesTarsals form the ankle, metatarsals the arch of the foot, phalanges the toes — absorbing impact and providing push-off
Cambridge repeatedly asks for the function of a bone, not just its name. "Name the bone that protects the brain" (1 mark) and "State the function of the cranium" (1 mark) are the same knowledge asked two ways.

Classifying bones: long, short and flat

Bones are grouped by shape, and the shape tells you what the bone is for. This is a classic 1-mark or 2-mark question, and it is easy marks if you learn the pattern.

TypeShapeJobExamples
LongLonger than they are wide, with a shaft and two endsAct as levers to produce movement and generate forceFemur, humerus, tibia, fibula, radius, ulna, metacarpals, metatarsals, phalanges
ShortRoughly equal in length and width, cube-shapedSpread and absorb impact — they give stability and shock absorptionCarpals (wrist), tarsals (ankle)
FlatThin and flattenedProtect organs and give a broad surface for muscle attachmentCranium, ribs, pelvis, scapula, patella

Turning knowledge into marks

A one-mark "state" question needs only the fact: "The cranium protects the brain." That scores.

A two-mark "explain" question needs the fact plus a consequence or a reason: "The cranium is a flat bone that surrounds the brain, so an impact to the head is absorbed by the bone rather than damaging the brain."

A "apply" question needs you to put it in a sport: "In rugby, the ribcage protects the heart and lungs from the impact of a tackle."

Key terms you must be able to define

Cranium
Flat bone of the skull that protects the brain.
Femur
Long bone of the thigh; the longest and strongest bone in the body, acting as a lever for powerful movement.
Scapula
Flat bone of the shoulder that gives a large surface for muscle attachment and forms the shoulder joint socket.
Talus
Short bone of the ankle that forms the joint with the tibia and fibula and transfers body weight to the foot.
Long bone
Bone longer than it is wide, acting as a lever to produce movement and generate force.
Flat bone
Thin, flattened bone whose role is protection and providing a broad surface for muscle attachment.
Short bone
Cube-shaped bone of similar length and width, providing stability and absorbing impact.

Applied to your sport

Cambridge requires you to apply this knowledge to physical activities. Use these as models, then write your own for the sport you play.

Football

The tibia and femur act as long bones (levers) to generate the power for a shot, while the tarsals absorb the impact of landing.

Basketball

The scapula gives a flat surface for muscle attachment so the arm can be raised to shoot; the carpals and metacarpals allow the wrist flick that puts spin on the ball.

Rugby Union

The cranium protects the brain from impact in a tackle; the ribs protect the heart and lungs in a scrum.

Swimming

The pelvis transfers force from the legs into the torso while kicking, and the scapula anchors the muscles that drive the arm through the water.

Flashcards

Click a card to flip it. Mark honestly — the tracker uses this.

Q1State the four functions of the skeleton.
Shape and support; muscle attachment for movement; protection; red blood cell production.
Q2Which bone protects the brain?
The cranium — a flat bone.
Q3Which is the longest and strongest bone in the body?
The femur (thigh bone) — a long bone that acts as a lever.
Q4Name the three types of bone by shape.
Long, short and flat.
Q5Give an example of a short bone and say why the shape matters.
Carpals (wrist) or tarsals (ankle). Their cube shape spreads impact and gives stability, so they absorb shock.
Q6What is the function of the pelvis?
Supports the lower body, protects the lower abdominal and reproductive organs, and transfers weight from the upper body to the legs.
Q7Which bones form the palm and fingers?
Metacarpals form the palm; phalanges form the fingers.
Q8Why does a performer need red blood cell production?
Red blood cells carry oxygen, so more of them means more oxygen can be delivered to working muscles during aerobic exercise.
0 of 8 marked as known

Exam-style questions

8 questions, 19 marks. Write your answer, then reveal the mark scheme and tick each point you actually made. Answering honestly here is what makes the rest of the site useful.

StateAO11 mark
State one function of the skeleton.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Any 1 of these score full marks. The examiner only needs 1 distinct point - pick the ones you actually made.
Examiner tip: Any one of the four functions scores. One mark, one fact — do not waste time writing more.
IdentifyAO12 marks
Identify two flat bones in the body.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Any 2 of these score full marks. The examiner only needs 2 distinct points - pick the ones you actually made.
Examiner tip: Each correct flat bone scores one mark. Naming a long bone such as the femur scores nothing.
ExplainAO22 marks
Explain how the skeleton helps a basketball player to jump and land safely.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: Note the pattern: name the bone + its type + what that type does + the benefit to the player. Two marks means two complete chains, not two bone names.
ExplainAO23 marks
Explain how the skeleton protects a rugby player during a tackle.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: Structure each mark as: bone → what it surrounds → what that protects it from. Three bones gives three marks.
DescribeAO12 marks
Describe the function of two of the bones in the leg.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: Two marks needs two bones, each with what it does. Naming two bones without a function scores one at most.
ExplainAO23 marks
Explain how the structure of the skeleton allows a swimmer to produce an effective start from the blocks.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: Link each bone to what its shape allows. Three bones, three complete chains of reasoning.
EvaluateAO24 marks
A coach tells a young athlete that 'building strong bones is only about lifting weights'. Evaluate this statement.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: 'Evaluate' requires a supported judgement. Agree with part of the statement, challenge part of it, and reach a conclusion.
CompareAO12 marks
Compare a long bone with a short bone, using sporting examples.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: "Compare" needs both sides. Describing only the long bone caps you at half marks.

Exam technique for this topic

  • Count the marks before you write. A 4-mark question wants four separate points, not one point explained four ways.
  • If the command word is explain, every point needs a "because" or a "so that".
  • Learn the four functions of the skeleton as a fixed set of four — you can then deploy them in almost any question about the skeleton.
  • Only use physical activities from the syllabus list in your examples. "Football" is safe; an activity Cambridge does not list is not.

Why students lose marks here

A student wroteThe skeleton protects the body and helps you move.
Why it loses marksThis is a vague, combined answer. It contains two functions but names neither precisely, and there is no explanation for either. On an explain question, no consequence means no mark.
The answer that scoresThe skeleton protects vital organs — the cranium protects the brain, so a blow to the head is absorbed by bone rather than damaging the brain. It also provides a surface for muscle attachment, so a contracting muscle can pull on a bone and produce movement at a joint.
A student wroteThe femur is a flat bone because it is very strong.
Why it loses marksThe femur is a long bone. Classification depends on shape (length compared with width), not on strength.
The answer that scoresThe femur is a long bone: it is longer than it is wide and acts as a lever to produce movement and generate force at the hip and knee.
A student wroteBones make blood.
Why it loses marksToo imprecise to score. Cambridge wants red blood cell production, and the examiner is looking for the term red blood cells.
The answer that scoresBone marrow inside bones produces red blood cells, which carry oxygen to working muscles during exercise.

Where this fits in IGCSE PE 0413

This page is one topic of Cambridge IGCSE PE 0413 / 0995. IGCSE PE 0413 is the course home: every area and every topic in Cambridge's own order, the papers you sit and what each one tests, and the exam-practice tools. The full topic list, with each topic linked to its revision page, is on the IGCSE PE 0413 syllabus page.