The Skeletal

System:
Structure, Function,
and Diseases
of the bones and
joints

The Skeletal System

Parts of the skeletal system
Bones (skeleton)
Joints
Cartilages
Ligaments (bone to bone)(tendon=bone to
muscle)

Divided into two divisions

Axial skeleton
Appendicular skeleton limbs and girdle

Functions of Bones
Support of the body
Protection of soft organs
Movement due to attached skeletal
muscles
Storage of minerals and fats
Blood cell formation

Bones of the Human Body

The skeleton has 206 bones
Two basic types of bone tissue
Compact bone
Homogeneous

Spongy bone
Small needle-like
pieces of bone
Many open spaces

Microscopic Anatomy of Bone

Bones are classified

by their shape:
1.long
2.short
3.flat
4.irregular

Classification of Bones on the

Basis of Shape

Classification of Bones
Long bones
Typically longer than wide
Have a shaft with heads at both ends
Contain mostly compact bone
Examples: Femur, humerus

Gross Anatomy of a Long Bone

Diaphysis
Shaft
Composed of
compact bone

Epiphysis
Ends of the bone
Composed mostly of
spongy bone

Structures of a Long Bone

Periosteum
Outside covering of
the diaphysis
Fibrous connective
tissue membrane

Sharpeys fibers
Secure periosteum to
underlying bone

Arteries
Supply bone cells
with nutrients

Classification of Bones

Short bones
Generally cube-shape
Contain mostly spongy bone
Examples: Carpals, tarsals

Classification of Bones
Flat bones
Thin and flattened
Usually curved
Thin layers of compact bone around a layer
of spongy bone
Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum

Classification of Bones
Irregular bones
Irregular shape
Do not fit into other bone classification
categories
Example: Vertebrae and hip

 Surface features of bones

Sites of attachments for muscles, tendons,
and ligaments
Passages for nerves and blood vessels
Categories of bone markings
Projections and processes grow out from the
bone surface
Depressions or cavities indentations

Types of Bone Cells

Osteocytes
Mature bone cells

Osteoblasts
Bone-forming cells

Osteoclasts
Bone-destroying cells
Break down bone matrix for remodeling and
release of calcium

Bone remodeling is a process by both

osteoblasts and osteoclasts

Changes in the Human Skeleton

In embryos, the skeleton is primarily hyaline
cartilage
During development, much of this cartilage
is replaced by bone
Cartilage remains in isolated areas
Bridge of the nose
Parts of ribs
Joints

Bone Growth
Epiphyseal plates allow for growth of long
bone during childhood
New cartilage is continuously formed
Older cartilage becomes ossified
Cartilage is broken down
Bone replaces cartilage

Bone Fractures
A break in a bone
Types of bone fractures
Closed (simple) fracture break that does not
penetrate the skin
Open (compound) fracture broken bone
penetrates through the skin

Bone fractures are treated by reduction

and immobilization
Realignment of the bone

Common Types of Fractures

Stages in the Healing of a Bone

Fracture

Axial skeleton supports and protects organs of

head, neck and trunk
Axial skeleton:
skull (cranium and facial bones)
hyoid bone (anchors tongue and muscles
associated with swallowing)
vertebral column (vertebrae and disks)
bony thorax (ribs and sternum)
Appendicular skeleton includes bones of limbs
and
bones that anchor them to the axial
skeleton
Appendicular skeleton:
pectoral girdle (clavicles and scapulae)
upper limbs (arms)
pelvic girdle (sacrum, coccyx)
lower limbs (legs)

22 bones in skull
6 in middle ears
1 hyoid bone
26 in vertebral column
25 in thoracic cage
4 in pectoral girdle
60 in upper limbs
60 in lower limbs
2 in pelvic girdle
206 bones in all

The Axial Skeleton

Forms the longitudinal part of the body
Divided into three parts
Skull
Vertebral column
Bony thorax

The Axial Skeleton

The skull
8 sutured bones in cranium
Facial bones: 13 sutured bones, 1 mandible
Cranium
encases brain
attachments for muscles
sinuses

Bones of the Skull

Allows for
growth

Human Skull, Superior View

Human Skull, Inferior View

Figure 5.9

Paranasal Sinuses
Hollow portions of bones surrounding
the nasal cavity

The Hyoid Bone

The only bone that
does not articulate
with another bone
Serves as a
moveable base for
the tongue

The Vertebral Column

Vertebrae
separated by
intervertebral discs
The spine has a
normal curvature
Each vertebrae is
given a name
according to its
location

Vertebral column
7 cervial vertebrae
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
1 sacrum (5 fused
1 coccyx (4 fused)
Vertebrae vary in size and morphology

Structure of a Typical Vertebrae

Thoracic cage
ribs
thoracic vertebrae
sternum
costal cartilages
True ribs are directly attached to the sternum
(first seven pairs)
Three false ribs are joined to the 7th rib
Two pairs of floating ribs

Joints
Fibrous-Fibrous joints connect bones without
allowing any movement. The bones of your
skull and pelvis are held together by fibrous
joints.
Cartilaginous-Cartilaginous joints are joints in
which the bones are attached by cartilage.
These joints allow for only a little movement,
such as in the spine or ribs.
Synovial-Synovial joints allow for much more
movement than cartilaginous joints. Cavities
between bones in synovial joints are filled with
synovial fluid. This fluid helps lubricate and
protect the bones. Bursa sacks contain the
synovial fluid. within fixed limits

 A joint, or articulation, is the

place where two bones come
together.
There are three types of
joints classified by the
amount of movement they
allow:
Immovable
slightly movable
freely movable

Types of Joints
Hinge- A hinge joint allows extension and
retraction of an appendage. (Elbow,
Knee)

Ball and Socket- A ball and socket joint

allows for radial movement in almost
any direction. They are found in the hips
and shoulders. (Hip, Shoulder)

Gliding- In a gliding or plane joint bones

slide past each other. Mid-carpal and midtarsal joints are gliding joints. (Hands,
Feet)

Saddle- This type of joint occurs when

the touching surfaces of two bones have
both concave and convex regions with
the shapes of the two bones
complementing one other and allowing
a wide range of movement. (Thumb)

Structures Associated with the

Synovial Joint
Bursae flattened fibrous sacs
Lined with synovial membranes
Filled with synovial fluid
Not actually part of the joint

Tendon sheath
Elongated bursa that wraps around a tendon

The Synovial Joint

Types of Synovial Joints Based on

Shape

Types of Synovial Joints Based on

Shape

Diseases and
Conditions
of the Skeletal
System

Arthritis

Bursitis
Inflammation of the Bursa sac
can become inflamed from injury
or infection
localized pain or swelling

Tendonitis
inflammation of the tendon.
movement becomes painful.
most common cause of tendonitis
is overuse.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

swelling or change in position of
the tissue within the carpal tunnel
squeezes and irritates the median
nerve.
causes tingling and numbness of
the thumb, index, and the middle
fingers

Osteoporosis
means "porous bones."
bones have lost minerals
(especially calcium) making them
weak, brittle, and susceptible to
fractures
most common places where
fractures occur are the back, hips,
and wrists.

Scoliosis
abnormal curvature of the spine.
one or more abnormal
More girls than boys have severe
scoliosis.

Kyphosis
spine may develop a hump.
can occur as a result of
developmental problems or
degenerative diseases

Lordosis
A curvature of the vertebrae in the
lower back area, giving a
"swayback" appearance.

Rickets
softening and weakening of bones
in children
usually because of an extreme and
prolonged vitamin D deficiency.

Gout
results from an overload of uric acid in
the body.
leads to the formation of urate crystals
that deposit in the joints.
crystals in the joints causes recurring
attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis).
Chronic gout may cause joint
destruction, decreased kidney function,
and kidney stones.

Acromegaly
occurs when the body produces
too much of the hormones that
control growth.
tissues grow larger than normal.
excessive growth can cause
serious disease and even
premature death.

Spina Bifida
birth defect that involves the
incomplete development of the
spinal cord or its coverings.
spina bifida literally means "split"
or "open" spine.
The condition usually is detected
before a baby is born and treated
right away.

Talipes EquinovarusClubfoot
deformity of the whole foot that is
present at birth.
the child is born with the foot pointing
down and twisted inwards at the ankle.

Sarcoma
Osteosarcoma
most common type of bone cancer.
most commonly found in children
and adolescents

Myeloma
cancer in which abnormal cells
collect in the bone marrow and
form tumors

Leukemia
cancer of the blood cells
starts in the bone marrow where
blood cells are
the bone marrow starts to make a
lot of abnormal white blood cells,
called leukemia cells.
leukemia cells don't do the work of
normal WBCs and they don't stop
growing when they should.

Bone Marrow Biopsy