SKELETAL SYSTEM

Objectives
• Identify the major bones of the skeleton;
• Relate the structure of the skeleton to its functions;
• Relate the structure of a typical bone to its functions;
• Distinguish between bone and cartilage;
• Explain the importance of cartilage;
• Distinguish between tendons and ligaments;
 Objectives
• Identify a hinge joint, fixed joint, and ball and socket joint;

• Describe movement in the hinge joint, and ball and socket joint;

• Identify the biceps and triceps of the upper arm;

• Explain how skeletal muscles function in the movement of a

limb;
• Explain the importance of locomotion to man;
• Evaluate the factors which adversely affect the skeletal system
DO YOU THINK THAT BONES ARE LIVING
THINGS ?
 Skeletal System
The human skeletal system consist of
all the bones, cartilage, tendons, and
ligaments in the body

What is bone?
A bone is a living hard connective
tissue made up from matrix, and
bone cells.
• Babies have 300 bones
• Adults have 206 bones
Major bones of the skeletal system
Match the name to the colour!
Let us try it again!
 Functions of the Skeleton
Movement
• The skeleton is jointed and
muscles work across these joints to
bring about movement by the legs
and arms while vertebral column
allows movement.

Protection
• For the internal organs. The skull
protects the brain and sense
organs of the head, i.e. the eyes,
ears, nasal cavities and tongue.
Vertebral column protects the
spinal cord. The rib cage and
sternum protects lungs and heart.
 Functions of the Skeleton
Support Support

• For the soft part of the body. This is

mainly carried out by the vertebral
column, pelvic girdle and legs.
Breathing
• Alternate contractions of the
internal and external
intercostal muscles between
the ribs bring about
movements of the rib cage,
which cause air to be drawn
into the lungs and expelled
from the lungs.
 Functions of the Skeleton
Production of blood cells
• Red blood cells, most white
blood cells and platelets
are produced in the red
bone marrow found in the
spongy bone inside flat
bones, e.g. the pelvis,
scapula, ribs, sternum,
cranium and vertebrae,
and in the ends of long
bones, e.g, the humerus
and femur.
 Main Structure and function of a
typical bone
Spongy bone
• Composed of a structural network of bony
processes with red bone marrow between. Light,
strong and withstands stress in all directions. Red
bone marrow produces blood cells.
Compact bone
• Dense, hard, strong bone. Main function is support.
Marrow cavity
• Contains fatty yellow bone marrow which serves as
a fat store.
List five (5) functions of the
skeleton.
 Bone vs Cartilage
BONE CARTILAGE
• Makes up of the bulk of the • Is composed of living cells
skeleton. It is composed of living surrounded mainly by
cells surrounded by the non-living
mineral, calcium phosphate,
collagen fibres. It is more
together with some collagen elastic and flexible than
(protein) fibres. Bone is hard and bone and does not have
has blood vessels running blood vessels running
throughout. through it.
 Importance of Cartilage
 It covers the ends of It makes up the
bones at joints where intervertebral discs
its slipperiness helps to between the vertebrae
reduce friction and it enabling the discs to act as
aids in shock shock absorbers.
absorption.
It forms the skeleton of
certain fleshy
appendages, e.g. the
nose and outer ear,
which maintains their
shape.
1.
•Hyaline cartilage
•Elastic cartilage
•Fibrocartilage

2. A Sternum Flat.b Axial

B Ribs Flat.b Axial
C Vertebra Irreg. b Axial
D Patella Sesamoid.b Appen.
E Phalanges Long.b Append.
 Tendons vs ligaments
TENDONS LIGAMENTS
• Attach the ends of muscles to • Attach bones together at
the bones of the skeleton. joints.
• They are made of tough, • They are made of tough,
fibrous connective tissue. fibrous connective tissue with
some elastic tissue.
• They are strong and non-
elastic so that, when a muscle • They are strong but elastic so
contracts, the force is they hold the bones together
transmitted directly to the firmly and prevent
bone, causing the bone to dislocation, but can stretch
move. slightly to allow movement at
the joints.
 Joints

• A joint is formed where

two bones meet.
• Most joints allow rigid
skeleton to move.
• There are three types
of joints.
 Types of Joints

Fix joints or fibrous

joints
• The bones are joined firmly
together by fibrous
connective tissue which
allows no movement, e.g.
the cranium is made of
several bones joined by
fixed or immovable joints.
 Types of Joints
Partially movable/
cartilaginous joints
• The bones separated by
cartilage pads which
allow slight movement,
e.g. the vertebrae are
separated by
intervertebral discs of
cartilage.
• The wrist and ankles are
also examples of partially
moveable joints.
 Types of Joints
Moveable or synovial
joints
• The articulating surfaces of
the bones are covered with
articular cartilage and
synovial fluid fills the joint
cavity between the bones.
• The bones are held together
by ligaments.
• There are two types of
movable joints.
 Types of synovial joints
Hinge Joints

• Hinge joints are formed when

the ends of the bones meet.
• They allow movement in one
plane (direction) only.
• This limited movement
provides strength and the
joints are capable of bearing
heavy loads, e.g. the elbow,
knee, finger and toe joints.
 Types of synovial joints
Ball and Socket joints

• Ball and socket joints are formed

where a ball at the end of one
bone fits into a socket in the
other bone.
• They allow rotational movement
in all planes.
• The free range of movement
makes the joints more
susceptible to dislocation than
hinge joint, e.g the shoulder and
hip joints.
 Movement of a limb

When a muscle contracts it exerts a pull, but it

cannot exert a push when it relaxes. Two muscles,
known as an antagonistic pair, are always needed to
produce movement at a movement joint:
• The flexor muscle is the muscle that bends the
joint when it contracts.
• The extensor muscle is the muscle that straightens
the joint when it contracts.
 Origin and Insertion of a muscle
Both muscles are attached by tendons at one of their ends to a
bone that does not move and at the other end to a bone that does
move.
 The origin of a muscle is the attachment point of the end of the
muscle to a bone that does not move during contraction.
The insertion of a muscle is the attachment point of the end of
the muscle to the bone that moves during contraction.

 The origin is usually as far away as possible from the joint and
the insertion is usually very close to the joint.
 Movement of the elbow joint
The biceps and triceps muscles move the radius and ulna
causing the elbow joint to bend or straighten:
• The biceps is the flexor muscle. Its origin is on the scapula
which does not move, and its insertion is on the radius close
to the elbow joint.
• The triceps is the extensor muscle. Its origin is on the scapula
and top of the humerus which do not move, and its insertion
is on the ulna close to the elbow joint.
To bend the elbow joint, the biceps contracts
and the triceps relaxes. To straighten the
elbow joint, the triceps contracts and the
biceps relaxes.
 Factors which adversely affect the
skeletal system
Poor posture Poor foot-wear
• Wearing shoes with high heels cause
• Posture refers to the relative position
the body weight to shift forwards to
of the different parts of the body.
the ball of the foot, leading to painful
• A poor posture strains muscles and arches and a change in the curvature
causes them to need more energy to of the spine, which causes bad
keep the body upright, which leads posture and can result in lower back
to fatigue and backache. pain.
• It also changes the curvature of the • Also cause calf muscles to shorten
spine, which leads to back, neck and and bulge, and place excess
shoulder pain, puts stress on certain pressure on knee and hip joints.
joints and wears down intervertebral
• Uncomfortable shoes can cause
discs in the spine causing a decrease
corn, ingrown nails, hammer
in height.
toe,etc.
 Factors which adversely affect the
skeletal system
Obesity An unbalanced diet

• Extra weight puts • A diet deficient in vitamin D

strain on the skeletal, leads to rickets and
especially the joints. osteomalacia in adults.
• This causes cartilage to • A diet deficient in calcium
wear down and leads leads to rickets in children and
to arthritis. osteoporosis in adults.
• A diet deficient in protein can
cause a decrease in bone
density and muscle mass.
The effect of exercise on the skeletal
system

Exercise has many benefits:

• It improves muscle tone, which is the unconscious
low-level contraction of muscles while they are at
rest. Good muscle tone is important because it
maintains balance and a good, upright posture,
and it keeps muscles in an active state ready for
coordinated action.
• It increases production of synovial fluid in joints
which keeps joints healthy, reduces friction and
increases flexibility.
 The importance of locomotion to
humans
• Many human activities involve locomotion, i.e.
movement from one place to another.
• Locomotion is essential for work and
recreation, to find food, to find a partner for
reproduction, to escape from danger, to avoid
being overcrowded and for exercise to keep
the body healthy.
• Walking on their two hind limbs means humans
can use their forelimbs and hands for other
activities, e.g. manipulating tools and writing.
The beauty of the skeletal system
 Research Activity!
• In groups of 3 or 4 identify three
popular sports person who have
been injured while playing sports.
Describe the injury to the skeletal
system. State how these
individuals are being treated or
were treated for the injury.