Skeletal System

- Provides the structural framework for the body and protects internal organs such as the heart,
lungs and brain.
2 Divisions of Skeleton
1. Axial skeleton – includes the skull, the vertebral column, the ribs, and the sternum.
2. Appendicular skeleton – includes the bones of the shoulder, arms, hands, hips, legs, and feet.
Classifications of Bones
1. Long bones – are found in the limbs like arms and legs.
2. Short bones – are found in the wrists and ankles.
3. Flat bones – are in the shoulder blades and skull.
4. Irregular bones – are found in face and vertebrae.
Skull Is consists of cranium and facial bones.
Cranium – is made of eight bones joint together to form a rigid case that protects the brain.
- The face is made up of 14 facial bones.
Eye socket – protects the eyeball.
Mandible or jawbone – protects the teeth.
Spinal Column and the Ribs It protects the spinal cord, a very delicate organ.
(A person whose spinal cord is injured may be paralyzed.)
Neck and backbone are made up of irregular bones called vertebrae.
Vertebrae are arranged on top of the other and move over each other slightly.
 There are 33 vertebrae in the spinal column of a child. As a child grows, the last seven bones
join together to form just two bones.
 The number of bones in the spinal column of an adult is 26.
Ribs are the bones at the side of the chest.
- It protects the lungs and the heart.
- There are 12 pair of ribs.
- The upper 7 pairs are the true ribs because they are connected to the breastbone or sternum.
- The lower 5 pairs are called false ribs.
(The upper 3 are connected to the breastbone and the last 2 pairs are not connected.These ribs are
called floating ribs.)
 The shoulder has the collarbone and shoulder bone.
 Clavicle is the collarbone found in front of the shoulder.
 Scapula is the shoulder bone found at the back of your shoulder.
Appendages
 The lower extremities are composed of pelvic bones that support the lower parts of the body
and aid the movement of the legs.
 Upper arm has one long bone called the humerus and two bones in the lower arm known as
the radius and ulna.
 Radius or ulna is the longer of the two bones in the human forearm.
 Each wrist or carpals has 8 bones
  Palm or metacarpals has 5 bones
 Fingers or phalanges have 14 bones
 Legs are made up of long bones.
Femur – is the upper leg and the longest bone in the body
 Tibia and fibula are the two bones in the lower leg.
 Patella – is the knee bone.
 Tarsals – are the anklebones (7)
 Metatarsals – are the foot bones (5)
 Phalanges – are the toe bones (14)
Bone marrow – is very important because it manufactures the blood cells in the body. Inside the
bones are hollow spaces in which the red blood cells are manufactured and calcium is stored.
2 Types of Bone Marrow
1. Red bone marrow – is found in the humerus, femur, pelvis and vertebrae.
2. Yellow bone marrow – is found in many other bones.
Structure of the Bones
 Bones are made up of thousands of collagen fibers embedded in mineral salts of calcium and
phosphorus. These minerals make the bones hard and strong.
Compact bone (outer layer) – provides strength and protection.
Spongy bone (inner layer) – the center is less-dense and contains a jelly-like, yellowish substance
called bone marrow.
Joints
- are formed where two bones meet.
- each joint is designed for a specific movement. Except for the joint in the skull, they can be
classified according to the movement and the shape of their parts.
Kinds of Joints
1. Ball and socket – allows movement in all directions. They allow a person to swing his/her
arms and legs. ..shoulder
hips
2. Hinge Joint – allows movement in one direction only. ..elbow & knee

3. Gliding joint – allows side-to-side and back-and-forth movement….wrist, ankles & vertebrae
4. Pivot joint – allows rotation movement. The joint where two bone of lower arm, the radius and
ulna meet is a pivot joint. This joint allows a person to twist the lower arm.
5. Immovable (fixed) joint – do not allow movement. Sutures in the skull are immovable joint. All
skull bones except the lower jaw are joint at sutures.

Healthful Habits to Keep Skeletal System Healthy

1. Do regular exercises
2. Eat food rich in Calcium and Vitamin D
3.Wear proper equipment when playing a game and riding a bike.