OCR GCSE Physical Education (J587) · Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Mini-Lesson
Applied Anatomy & Physiology
This mini-lesson covers OCR GCSE PE — Applied Anatomy & Physiology: the skeletal and muscular systems, joints, tendons and ligaments, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, movement analysis (levers, planes and axes) and the effects of exercise.
There's a cardiac-output calculation and a lever calculation to practise. Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you're ready.
Skeleton
Functions of the skeleton
The skeleton has several jobs you must know for OCR:
Support and protection (cranium → brain; ribs → heart and lungs).
Movement — bones act as levers for muscles.
Structural shape & posture.
Mineral storage (calcium, phosphorus).
Blood cell production in the bone marrow.
Joints
Joints, ligaments & tendons
Synovial joints move freely. Cartilage cushions the bone ends and synovial fluid lubricates. Two structures are easy to confuse:
Ligaments — bone to bone (stability).
Tendons — muscle to bone (transfer the pull).
Joints allow named movements: flexion (decreasing the angle), extension (increasing it), abduction (away from the midline), adduction (towards it), plus rotation and circumduction.
Quick check
Flexion or extension?
?During the upward phase of a biceps curl the angle at the elbow gets smaller. What is this movement called?
Muscles
The muscular system & antagonistic pairs
Muscles pull in antagonistic pairs — as the agonist contracts, the antagonist relaxes:
Contractions: concentric (muscle shortens), eccentric (lengthens under tension) and isometric (length unchanged, e.g. a plank).
Quick check
The antagonist
?As the biceps contracts to bend the elbow, what is the triceps doing?
Cardiovascular
The cardiovascular system
The heart pumps blood around a double circuit. Arteries carry blood away, veins return it, and capillaries exchange gases with the tissues. During exercise, vascular shunting sends more blood to the working muscles.
cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate
Calculate
Cardiac output
1A performer has a stroke volume of 90 ml and a heart rate of 70 bpm. Calculate their cardiac output in ml/min.
Breathing uses the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Gas exchange happens at the alveoli, which have a large surface area, thin walls, a moist lining and a rich blood supply — ideal for fast diffusion of oxygen in and carbon dioxide out.
Quick check
Gas exchange site
?Where in the lungs does gaseous exchange between air and blood take place?
Levers
Movement analysis — levers
First class — fulcrum in the middle (nodding the head; elbow extension).
Second class — load in the middle; mechanical advantage (rising onto the toes / plantar-flexion).
Third class — effort in the middle; most common; mechanical disadvantage (biceps curl).
mechanical advantage = effort arm ÷ load arm
Calculate
Mechanical advantage
2A lever has an effort arm of 45 cm and a load arm of 15 cm. Calculate the mechanical advantage.
: 1
Hint: mechanical advantage = effort arm ÷ load arm = 45 ÷ 15.
Planes & axes
Planes & axes
Sagittal plane / transverse axis — a forward somersault or a biceps curl.
Frontal plane / sagittal axis — a cartwheel or star jump.
Transverse plane / longitudinal axis — a spinning turn or discus throw.
Sort it
Put each one in the right group
Tap a sporting action, then tap the plane the movement travels in.
↕️ Sagittal plane
↔️ Frontal plane
🔄 Transverse plane
Quick check
Cartwheel plane
?A gymnast performs a cartwheel, moving sideways. Which plane is this movement in?
Match it
Match each statement to its answer
Tap a term on the left, then its correct meaning on the right.
Statement
Answer
Recap
The big ideas to know
Skeleton: support, protection, movement, mineral storage, blood cell production