Skeletal System Diseases

Our skeletal system provides a framework for the muscles and helps in the basic function of movement.
However, due to age and various other factors, the bones become weak and fragile and may get
affected by some common disorders.

The adult human skeletal system comprises 206 bones and the associated cartilage, tendons, ligaments
as well as teeth. The bones are connected to each other through ligaments and to muscles through
tendons. The skeletal system forms a supportive framework for the human body, and provides stable
anchoring points for soft tissues. The skeletal system not only protects vital organs like brain, spinal
cord, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc., but also acts as a reservoir of minerals, like calcium and
phosphorous which are supplied to various body parts through blood.

The process of formation and development of blood cells (hematopoiesis) occurs in the bone marrow of
long bones. Along with the muscles, our skeletal system forms a leverage system that helps us to move
our limbs and perform various activities.

The tissues of the skeletal system are affected by degenerative wear and tear, infectious agents, genetic
anomalies, etc. Some of the commonly known diseases, disorders and medical conditions of the skeletal
system have been described below.

Congenital and Hereditary
Achondroplasia: It is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects growth and development of long
bones. It is characterized by bone deformation, leading to disproportionate shortness of the extremities
(legs, arms, fingers and toes) relative to the trunk.

Achondrogenesis: It includes a set of disorders resulting due to growth hormone deficiency, which leads
to altered bone and cartilage development. The infants are stillborn or die shortly after birth.

Clubfoot: Also known as talipes equinovarus, it is the most common congenital disorder which affects
joints of the feet. In babies born with this disorder, one foot or both the feet point downwards and
inwards, making it difficult for them to walk and move around.

Hereditary Multiple Exostoses: Inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, this disorder involves the
development of benign (non-cancerous) bone tumors called exostoses. Such tumors cause uneven limb
growth and limited joint movements.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Also known as brittle bone disease, this genetic anomaly leads to
underproduction of cartilage causing fragile bones, loose joints, and blue sclerae. It is also inherited in
an autosomal dominant pattern.

Osteopetrosis: It is a rare inherited disorder wherein bone reabsorption is altered due to dysfunctional
osteoclasts. This leads to increased bone density and hardening of bones.

Spina Bifida: It is a neural tube defect in which the skeletal tissues surrounding the spinal cord remain
underdeveloped. Under normal conditions, the two sides of each vertebra join together to form a
column around the spinal cord. In case of this disorder, such fusion does not take place in certain
vertebrae, leaving a slit in the spinal column.

Fibrous Dysplasia: It is a gene mutation, which is not hereditary and occurs during the fetal development
in the mother's womb. Fibrous dysplasia is a condition where fibrous tissues start growing in place of
normal bones. The fibrous tissues expand during the growth of the bones making them weaker and
weaker. If the mutation occurs at the early stage of fetal development it affects more tissues however, if
it occurs late a very few get affected. Since mutation occurs before birth it is considered as a genetic
disorder but it is not hereditary because the sperm or egg does not pass on the mutation to the fetus.

Hypophosphatemia: The decrease in phosphorous levels in the body results in hypophosphatemia.
Conditions like chronic diarrhea, starvation, alcoholism, vitamin D deficiency, etc., can lead to this
condition. The person suffering from hypophosphatemia will experience muscle weakness and pain in
the bones. Adults suffering from this condition also experience loss of teeth at an early age and the
bones become susceptible to fractures. Children with hypophosphatemia have an abnormally shaped
head and their limbs are extremely short with enlarged joints.

Cancers
Osteosarcoma: It is a type of bone cancer that involves the growth of cancerous tumors in the fast-
growing regions of bones. It mostly occurs during childhood and adolescence, with the average age of
diagnosis being 15 years.

Chondrosarcoma: It is a malignant bone cancer that originates in the cartilage. Pelvic bones, shoulder
bones, and the upper part of limbs are the most common sites of origin. It is more common in adults.

Ewing's Sarcoma: It is a type of primary bone cancer and may originate in the long bones, pelvic bones
or even flat bones of the skull. It is more common in children and generally develops during puberty.
The cancer then metastasizes to other body tissues as well.

Others
Arthritis: It is a group of diseases involving inflammation of joints. Autoimmunity, wear and tear of the
joints and associated tissues, and infection are the common causes. Depending on the cause and the
tissue affected, about 100 different types have been identified. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and
psoriatic arthritis are some of the common types.

Bursitis: It implies the inflammation of fluid-filled sacs called bursae, which serve as a cushion between
the bone, and the tendons and/or muscles present in joints. Shoulders, knees, elbows and hips are the
commonly affected joints. Such inflammation can occur due to infections, trauma, or aging.

Osteomyelitis: It is the result of bone infection, either contracted through another infected organ of the
body or after surgeries involving metal plates and rods. It is characterized by severe pain and
inflammation in the infected bone, fever, chills, nausea, and weakness. Staphylococcus aureus is the
most common causative agent of osteomyelitis.

Osteoporosis: It is one of the most common bone diseases, and is characterized by reduction in bone
mineral density. It is the result of an imbalance in the bone formation and bone reabsorption process.
The bones become weak and tend to get fractured easily.

Rickets: This disorder involves the softening and weakening of bones due to the deficiency of vitamin D,
calcium and phosphate. The symptoms include pain and tenderness of bones, muscle cramps, dental
and skeletal deformities, etc.

Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a condition involving excessive or abnormal curvature of the spine. It may be
idiopathic (spontaneously arising), congenital or neuromuscular. It is characterized by chronic backache
and lower back pain as well as difficulty in bending, twisting or lifting objects.

Kyphosis: This is also a condition of abnormal spine curvature, and is characterized by formation of a
hunchback. Infections, connective tissue disorders, degenerative spine diseases, and muscular
dystrophy, are some of the causes of kyphosis.

Osteonecrosis: Insufficient blood supply to large joints such as hips, shoulders, elbows and knees leads
to death of the bone tissues in that area. This is termed as osteonecrosis. This can occur due to injury,
trauma, radiation therapy, fractures, and bone dislocations.

Sprain: A ligament is a tough fibrous tissue that surrounds the bones and holds them together. When
this ligament is stretched too far or tears, the joint swells up causing severe pain. As the swelling and
pain increases, the injury becomes more and more severe. Knee and ankle sprain are the most
commonly occurring conditions.

Scurvy: It is the disease caused by the deficiency of vitamin C or ascorbic acid in the body. This deficiency
leads to poor recovery of wounds and the person becomes more susceptible to bruises. It causes gum
diseases, weakness and skin hemorrhages. Although an uncommon health condition, scurvy affects
older and malnourished adults. The major cause of scurvy is over cooking of the food as it destroys the
vitamin C content in the food.

Poliomyelitis: Also called polio, this disease is highly contagious and infectious and is caused by three
types of polio viruses. It affects the nervous system resulting into partial or total paralysis. It is often
transmitted through fecal-oral contact. While 90-95% of the people may not show any symptoms, there
are some who experience mild symptoms like nausea, fever, decreased appetite, constipation, etc.
There are three types of poliomyelitis- Abortive poliomyelitis, Non-paralytic poliomyelitis and Paralytic
poliomyelitis.

Paget's Disease: It mostly affects older men and women. The metabolism rate of bones is altered in the
person suffering from paget's disease. Bones in the human body usually break down and rebuild
themselves throughout life. The breakdown process of bones during this condition becomes faster than
the rate of renewal. Consequently the bones become fragile, weak and susceptible to fractures and
infections.

Disk Herniation: The bones that make up our spine are being cushioned by soft disks, which are filled
with a jelly-like substance. These disks play an important role of supporting the vertebrae and keeping
them in place. However a herniated disk loses its elasticity and ruptures. When the spinal disk ruptures
it gets pushed outside its normal position causing the nerves around the area to compress. This in turn
causes numbness, pain and tenderness in the area adversely affecting the functioning of the nerves and
the spinal cord.

Tendinitis: Tendons are the tough connective tissue cords between the muscles and bones, which help
muscles to move the bones. Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons that is caused by the overuse
of muscles or due to an injury. It usually affects joints of the knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, heels and
wrists. It causes tenderness and pain near these joints. When tendinitis affects the elbow it is given a
specific name - Tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis).

Wilson's Disease: Copper in the human body plays an important role of keeping the bones, nerves,
collagen, etc., in a healthy state and this copper is absorbed from the food that we consume. When
there is excess copper buildup, the liver excretes it out of the body with the help of bile (a substance
produced in the liver). Wilson's disease occurs when excess amount of copper is not eliminated from the
body and starts accumulating in the liver, brain and other vital organs of the body.

The well-being of our skeletal system depends on a variety of factors including genetic makeup, diet,
lifestyle and exercise. Anomalies or ignorance in any of these aspects can lead to a variety of diseases or
conditions that are not only painful, but also make simple activities like lifting a pencil from the ground,
extremely difficult.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement
for expert medical advice.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/skeletal-system-diseases.html

List of Skeletal System Diseases
Last Updated: Mar 05, 2011 | By Rae Uddin
List of Skeletal System Diseases Photo
CreditJupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
The 206 bones of the skeletal system provide a strong framework upon which muscles, tissues and organs can attach. This
structure also protects your internal organs and allows your body to move around freely. Like any other body system, however,
disease can affect your skeletal system.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects your joints, such as the knees, or a portion of your spinal column. Typical
symptoms of this condition include joint pain, swelling and stiffness accompanied by a reduction in the ability to freely move
your joints. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types of this disease.
Bone Cancer
Bone cancer, though uncommon, is cancer that originates within a bone of your body causing bones to weaken. Individuals with
bone cancer may experience fatigue, bone pain or frequent bone fractures.Though any bone can be affected by cancer, bone
cancer most frequently occurs in longer bones, such as those in your legs or arms.
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Leukemia
Leukemia is a form of cancer that originates in the bone marrow and affects the lymphatic system. This disease results in the
formation of abnormal, malfunctioning white blood cells, which interferes with the ability of your body to fight infection. There
are four major types of leukemia: acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia and
chronic myelogenous leukemia.
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Osteomalacia (Rickets)
Osteomalacia is a disease that leads to a softening and weakening of your bone tissue. This disease, which in children is also
called rickets, is typically caused by prolonged vitamin D deficiency.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become brittle and weak due to the extensive loss of bone tissue. Though the cause of
osteoporosis is poorly understood, researchers believe that the bone remodeling process that occurs in healthy individuals is
interrupted in individuals with this disease. Osteoporosis also commonly results in bone fractures of the wrist, spine or hip, which
can even be caused by mild stresses such as coughing.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a genetic birth defect that effects the development of the spinal cord while a baby is in the uterus. When present,
this defect is typically detected and treated before a baby is born. However, babies that are not treated before birth may be born
with excess fluid in or around the brain. There are two major types of spina bifida: spina bifida occulta and spina bifida
manifesta.
Spinal Curvatures
There are three main types of spinal curvatures: kyphosis, hyperlordosis and scoliosis.



Kyphosis---also called hunchback---is a deformity of the upper portion of the spinal column that results in severe forward
bending of the spine. In children and adolescents, this condition may result from poor posture (postural kyphosis), misshapen
vertebrae (Scheuermann kyphosis) or problems during fetal development (congenital kyphosis). In adults, this condition is often
the result of another disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis or cancer.



Hyperlordosis---also called swayback---is a condition in which the curve of the lower portion of the spine is notably pronounced.
Muscle or nervous system problems are often the cause of this condition.



Scoliosis results in a sideways curvature of the spinal column. This condition is most frequently diagnosed during adolescent
growth spurts prior to or during puberty. Though the cause of this condition is not fully understood, some researchers believe that
the disease may be due to an inherited genetic disorder.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/65887-list-skeletal-system-diseases/
VDiseases of Skeletal System
By Dana Severson, eHow Contributor




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Though not as common as diseases that affect other systems of your body, it is possible to suffer from a
disease of the skeletal system. Most bone diseases affect the overall structure and strength of this part of
your body, normally isolated to a section of the skeletal system. However, you may also develop a bone
disease that can affect other areas of the body. Have a question? Get an answer from a doctor now!
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Muscular System Diseases
1. Osteoporosis
o One of the more common diseases of the skeletal system is osteoporosis, a degenerative condition that
causes your bones to become more porous than normal. Over time, the affected bones become brittle and
weak, increasing your chances of fractures and breaks. And though these types of injuries aren't always a
cause for alarm, someone dealing with osteoporosis can actually become disabled from severe impact to
bones. Increasing your intake of calcium can go a long way to preventing this disease, but you may also
need to rely on hormone therapy, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, teriparatide or even tamoxifen (frequently
used in the treatment of cancer) to improve your condition.
Arthritis
o Another common disease of the skeletal system is arthritis. With this condition, joints in your body begin
to suffer from inflammation, causing a great deal of stiffness and pain. Osteoarthritis is one of the most
common forms of arthritis, but you can also suffer from a condition known as rheumatoid arthritis. As the
condition persists, you may begin to experience mobility issues as well as problems with your posture or
even fine motor skills. Treatment is usually based on reducing the symptoms of the condition, such as
pain and stiffness, through a course of prescription medications, physical therapy or surgery (to correct or
replace the affected joint).
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Rickets
o Rickets is a childhood disease of the skeletal system characterized by soft bones. This is usually a result of
a vitamin deficiency, namely vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium, one of the main building
blocks of your bones. It also helps your body absorb phosphorous, another crucial part of strong bones.
Proper diet is really the best way to prevent this disease in children.
Bone Cancer
o It is also possible to have cancer of the bones. Though the primary form of bone cancer isn't as common as
cancer that has spread to bones from the blood or organs, there are cases of this type of disease, especially
in regard to children. It seems that abnormal cells are more apt to grow in bones that are growing than
those that are already set in place. If you were to be diagnosed with bone cancer, treatment typically
involves a standard course of care, including surgical procedures to remove the diseased tissue as well as
radiation therapy, chemotherapy and sometimes hormone therapy.
Paget's Disease
o Though not necessarily as common as other diseases of the bone, you may also develop a condition known
as Paget's disease. This condition affects the way your bones metabolize. Throughout your life, your bones
will break down, then quickly rebuild themselves. Normally, this is a cyclical process of breakdown and
renewal. But with this disease, your bone breaks down at a much faster rate than it can rebuild, causing it
to become more fragile than normal and even misshapen.


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