THE

SKELETAL
SYSTEM

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

Parts of the skeletal system

Bones

Joints

(skeleton)

Cartilages

Ligaments

& tendons

Divided into two divisions

Axial

skeleton
Appendicular skeleton

FUNCTIONS OF BONES
Framework of the body -> Supports the body
- Bones of legs: supports entire body when standing
Protects soft body parts or organs
- Skull (protects the brain); sternum (heart & lungs)
Permits flexible body movement due to attached
skeletal muscles
Stores minerals & fats
- Bones contains CaPO4 , mineral salts,protein fibers; fat
(yellow bone marrow)
Forms/produces Blood cell
- Red bone marrow in flat bone of skull, ribs, sternum,
clavicle, vertebrae, pelvis produce blood cells

BONE IS A LIVING TISSUE..

minerals, salts, collagen fibers, nerves, blood vessels
Consists of living cells:

Osteoblasts

( bone forming cells)

Osteoclasts ( for growth & repair of bones)

Develops
Grows
Remodels
Repairs itself

BONES OF THE HUMAN BODY

The adult skeleton has 206 bones

Two basic types of bone tissue

COMPACT bone

Dense, strong
homogenous

SPONGY

bone

Small needle-like
pieces of bone
Many open spaces
Spaces filled with red bone marrow

Figure 5.2b

CLASSIFICATION OF BONES ON THE BASIS OF

SHAPE

Sesamoid bones
(knee cap or patella)

Figure 5.1

CLASSIFICATION OF BONES

Long bones
Typically

longer than wide

Have a shaft with heads at both ends
Contain mostly compact bone

Examples: Femur, humerus

Short bones
Generally

cube-shape
Contain mostly spongy bone

Examples: Carpals (wrist) , tarsals (ankle)

CLASSIFICATION OF BONES

Flat bones
Thin

and flattened
Usually curved

Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum

Irregular bones
Irregular

shape
Do not fit into other bone classification categories

Example: Vertebrae and hip

Sesamoid bones

Small rounded bones

Knee cap / patella

STRUCTURES OF A LONG BONE

Periosteum
Outside covering of the diaphysis
Fibrous connective tissue
membrane
Arteries
Supply bone cells with nutrients
Medullary cavity
Contains yellow marrow (mostly
fat) in adults
Contains red marrow (for blood
cell formation) in infants

Figure 5.2c

THE AXIAL SKELETON

Lies in the midline or forms the longitudinal
part of the body
Consists of:

Skull

Hyoid

bone
Vertebral column
Rib cage ( ribs & sternum)

THE AXIAL SKELETON

Figure 5.6

THE SKULL

Two sets of bones

CRANIUM ( braincase)
- protects the brain
FACIAL bones
Mandible (lower jaw): only movable portion of the
skull
Zygomatic bones (cheek bones)
Nasal bones (forms nose bridge)

Bones are joined by sutures

BONES OF THE SKULL

Figure 5.11

THE HYOID BONE

Not part of the skull
the only bone that does
not articulate with another
bone

Attached to temporal bones by

muscles & ligaments
Attached to larynx by membrane

Anchors the tongue

Site for attachment of
muscles for swallowing

Figure 5.12

THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

33 vertebrae

Vertebrae separated by
intervertebral discs (acts as
padding)

normal curvature

(for resilience & strength for an

upright position)

Functions:

Supports the head & trunk

Protects spinal cord

Site for muscle attachment

Figure 5.14

RIB CAGE

Ribs (12 pairs)

Sternum (breastbone)

Thoracic vertebrae

Functions of rib cage:

- Protects heart & lungs

Figure 5.19a

THE APPENDICULAR SKELETON

Limbs (appendages)
Pectoral (shoulder) girdle
Pelvic (hip) girdle

THE PECTORAL (SHOULDER)

GIRDLE

Composed of two bones:

CLAVICLE (collarbone)
SCAPULA (shoulder blade)

These bones allow the upper limb to have

exceptionally free movement

BONES OF THE SHOULDER GIRDLE

Figure 5.20ab

BONES OF THE UPPER LIMB

The arm is formed by a

single long bone
HUMERUS

Figure 5.21ab

BONES OF THE UPPER LIMB

The forearm has two

bones
Ulna

Radius

Figure 5.21c

BONES OF THE UPPER LIMB

The HAND

Carpals or wrist
Metacarpals or palm
Phalanges or fingers

Figure 5.22

BONES OF THE PELVIC GIRDLE

Hip

bones
PELVIS
Pelvic

girdle
Sacrum coccyx

Functions:

Bears the total weight of the upper body

Protects several organs
Reproductive organs, Urinary bladder, Part of the
large intestine
Site of attachment for the legs

FEMALE pelvis: pubic arch is more than 90 degrees

: more shallow; wider outlet
: facilitate giving birth

THE PELVIS

Figure 5.23a

BONES OF THE LOWER LIMBS

The thigh has one bone

FEMUR or thigh bone

Longest & strongest
bone in the body
PATELLA or knee cap

Figure 5.24ab

BONES OF THE LOWER LIMBS

The lower leg has two

bones
Tibia

Fibula

Figure 5.24c

BONES OF THE LOWER LIMBS

The foot

Tarsus

or ankle
Metatarsals or sole
Phalanges or toes

Figure 5.25