Skeletal System
Parts of the Skeletal System
Bones
Joints
Cartilage
Ligaments
Division of the Skeletal System
Axial Skeleton
Appendicular Skeleton
Functions of the Skeletal System
Support
Protection of soft organs
Movement
Storage of fats and minerals
Blood cell formation (hematopoiesis)
Bone Tissue
Number of adult bones: 206
Two basic types of bone tissue:
Compact bone: Homogeneous, dense.
Spongy bone: Small needle-like pieces (trabeculae) with open spaces.
Bone Classification According to Shape
Flat bones
Long bones:
Longer than wide, have a shaft with heads at both ends, mostly compact bone. Examples:
Femur, Humerus.
Diaphysis: Shaft, composed of compact bone.
Epiphysis: Ends of the bone, composed of spongy bone.
Periosteum: Outer covering of the diaphysis, fibrous connective tissue membrane.
Sharpey's fibers: Secure the periosteum to underlying bone.
Arteries: Supply bone cells with nutrients.
Articular cartilage: Covers the external surface of the epiphyses, made of hyaline
cartilage, decreases friction at joint surfaces.
Medullary cavity: Cavity of the shaft, contains yellow marrow (fat) in adults and red
marrow (blood cell formation) in infants.
Short bones: Cube-shaped, mostly spongy bone. Examples: Carpals, Tarsals.
Flat bones: Thin and flattened, usually curved. Thin layers of compact bone around a layer of
spongy bone. Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum.
Irregular bones: Irregular shape, do not fit into other bone categories. Examples: Vertebrae
and hip bones.
Changes in the Human Skeleton
In embryos, the skeleton is primarily hyaline cartilage.
During development, cartilage is replaced by bone.
Cartilage remains in isolated areas:
Bridge of the nose
Parts of ribs
Joints
Bone Growth
Epiphyseal plates allow for longitudinal growth of long bones during childhood.
1. New cartilage is continuously formed.
2. Older cartilage becomes ossified.
3. Cartilage is broken down.
4. Bone replaces cartilage.
5. Bones are remodeled and lengthened until growth stops.
6. Bones change shape.
7. Bones grow in width (appositional growth).
Types of Bone Cells
Osteocytes: Mature bone cells, located within lacunae (small cavities in the bone matrix).
Osteoblasts: Bone-forming cells, responsible for bone repair and remodeling.
Osteoclasts: Bone-destroying cells, break down bone matrix to release calcium and remodel
bone.
Bone remodeling: A dynamic process involving both osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
Bone Ossification
Ossification: The process of bone formation by osteoblasts.
After an osteoblast becomes completely surrounded by bone matrix, it becomes an
osteocyte.
Two processes of bone formation:
Intramembranous ossification: Occurs within connective tissue membranes. Example: Flat
bones of the skull.
Endochondral ossification: Occurs inside cartilage. Example: Long bones.
Both types of bone formation result in compact and spongy bone.
Bone Fracture Repair
1. Hematoma (blood-filled swelling) is formed.
2. A fibrocartilage callus forms to splint the break.
3. The fibrocartilage callus is replaced by a bony callus.
4. The bony callus is remodeled to form a permanent patch.
Fracture Types
Comminuted: Bone breaks into many fragments. Common in the elderly.
Compression: Bone is crushed. Common in osteoporotic bones.
Depressed: Broken bone portion is pressed inward. Typical of skull fractures.
Impacted: Broken bone ends are forced into each other. Commonly occurs when one
attempts to break a fall with outstretched arms.
Spiral: Ragged break occurs when excessive twisting forces are applied to a bone. Common
sports fracture.
Greenstick: Bone breaks incompletely. Common in children, whose bones are more flexible.
Paranasal Sinuses
Hollow portions of bones surrounding the nasal cavity.
Functions:
Lighten the skull.
Provide resonance and amplification to voice.
Fetal Skull
Large compared to the infant's total body length.
Fontanelles: Fibrous membranes connecting the cranial bones.
Allow the brain to grow.
Convert to bone within 24 months after birth.
Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
Hip bones (coxal bones)
Three pairs of fused bones:
1. Ilium
2. Ischium
3. Pubic bone
Functions:
Total weight of the upper body rests on the pelvis.
Protects several organs: Reproductive organs, urinary bladder, part of the large intestine.
Joints
Articulations of bones
Functions:
Hold bones together
Allow for mobility
Classified functionally and structurally.
Functional Classification of Joints
Synarthroses: Immovable joints.
Amphiarthroses: Slightly movable joints.
Diarthroses: Freely movable joints.