Skeletal System
(Code: MC2-6)
Functions
Support
Protection
Assistance in movement
Mineral storage – calcium phosphate
Blood cell production- Red bone marrow
Triglyceride storage- Yellow bone marrow
Associated Structures
- Cartilage
- Environment in which bone develops in
the fetus; found in ends of certain
bones and joints
- Ligaments
- Tendon
Structure of a Bone
Epiphysis
Ends of a bone; articulate with adjacent bones to form
joints
Articular cartilage
Articular surface of each epiphysis
Protects and cushions the ends of bones; smooth surface
for movement
Diaphysis
Shaft; between 2 epiphyses
Epiphyseal disk/line
Area that joins the epiphysis to the diaphysis
Metaphysis
Small section between the epiphysis and diaphysis
Contains the growth plate which disappears after
childhood
Periosteum
tough dense connective tissue; surrounds the bone
surface; contains bone-forming cells that enable bone to
grow in diameter
Medullary cavity
space within diaphysis; contains fatty yellow bone marrow
Endosteum
Thin membrane lining the medullary cavity; contains single
layer of bone forming cells and few connective tissue
Interior structure
Spongy bone
Cancellous bone;
Forms interior of small bones, skull bones; epiphyses in long
bones
Consists of thin rods or plates called TRABECULAE
Reduces the weight of bone without reducing its supportive
strength
Spaces are filled with RED MARROW
Compact bone
Formed of tightly packed bone tissue
Very
strong; provides supportive strength to long
bones
Compact bone
Arranged in small units (OSTEONS or Haversian
systems)
Haversian or central canals – contain blood vessels
Lamella – concentric rings of bone surrounding the
central canals
Lacunae – tiny cavities between two lamella; contains
an osteocyte or bone cell suspended in tissue fluid
Canaliculi – smaller canals that connect the lacunae to
each other
Volkmann or perforating canals- canals running
horizontally to the Haversian canals
Bone Marrow
Red bone marrow – found within the
trabeculae of spongy/cancellous bone
Richly supplied with blood
Consists of blood cells and their precursors
Function: blood cell formation/hematopoiesis
Ribs,
vertebrae sternum, bones of pelvis
(adults)
Ends of humerus/femur - children
Yellow bone marrow – connective
tissue of fat cells
Diaphysis of long bones
Extendsinto the osteons replacing red
bone marrow when it becomes
depleted
Growth of Bone
Developing fetus
Skeletoncompletely formed by end of 3rd month
of pregnancy; predominantly cartilage
Subsequent months – formation of bone
(ossification) and growth occurs
Longitudinal growth until ~ 15 y/o (girls)/
16(boys) epiphyseal line/plate
Bone maturation and remodeling until about
age 25 ; epiphyseal plate replaced by bone
tissue
Protein matrix makes bone resilient or elastic on
tension → mineral salts deposit
Deposition of Bone
Osteoprogenitor cells osteoblast
periosteum
endosteum
*Controlled by amount of strain or pressure on the bone; more strain,
greater deposition on bone
Bone Repair
Bone formation
Ossification (process of bone formation)
Begins by 6th-7th week of embryonic life
Existing connective tissue replaced by
bone tissue
Two types:
Intramembranous Ossification
Endochondral Ossification
Intramembranous ossification
Dense connective membranes are replaced
by deposits of inorganic calcium salts.
The bones of the cranium form in this way.
Endochondral ossification
Cartilage is the environment in which the
bone cells develop.
All other bones of the body develop in this
way
Homeostasis of Bone
Bones are continually restructured throughout
life
Removal of calcium salts by osteoclasts
Deposition of new bone by osteoblasts
Physical activity → maintain density and
volume of bones
Balance between amount of calcium stored
in the bones, blood and excess calcium
excreted by kidneys and digestive system
Endocrine system controls amount of calcium in
blood and bones
Calcitonin → storage of calcium in bones
Parathormone → releases calcium into the
bloodstream
Children → large amount of protein fibers in bone
matrix → flexible
Aging process → protein decreases →brittle bones
→ fracture
Loss of calcium salts → osteoporosis → reduced
bone strength
Classification of Bones
Based On Shape
Long bones – length exceeds their width;
Clavicle, humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia and fibula
Metacarpals of the hand
Metatarsals of the foot
Phalanges of fingers and toes
Short bones – lack a long axis; Irregular shape
Carpal bones of wrist
Tarsal bones of the foot
Flat bones – for extensive muscle attachment
or protection for soft or vital parts of the body
Usually curved
Sternum, ribs, scapula, parts of pelvic bones, some
bones of the skull
Irregular bones
Irregular/peculiar in shape
Vertebrae, ossicles of the ear
Sesamoid bones
Small rounded bones
Enclosed in a tendon and fascial tissue, Located
adjacent to joints
Knee cap or patella (largest sesamoid bone)
Some of the wrist and ankle bones
Bone Markings
Surface of any typical bone will exhibit certain
projections called PROCESSES or certain
depressions called FOSSAE or both
Help join one bone to another
Provide a surface for attachments of muscles
Serve as passageway into the bone for blood
vessels and nerves
Divisions of the Skeleton
Axial division
Appendicular – bones
division – along the
bones of the longitudinal
upper axis of the
extremities and body that
pectoral girdle support the
and of the head, neck
lower and trunk
extremities and
pelvic girdle
Axial Skeleton
Major components: skull, vertebral column, thoracic cage
I. Skull – cranial/cranium (8) and facial bones (14)
A. CRANIAL BONES
- protect and enclose the brain and special sense organs
(eyes and ears)
- muscles for mastication/chewing and for head movements
- paranasal sinuses- air-filled spaces; reduce weight of the
skull
- all bones connected by immovable joints called sutures
B. FACIAL BONES:
- 14; 6 paired bones and 2 single bones
- also united by immovable sutures except the
lower jawbone or mandible
PALATINE Bones:
- 2; posterior part of roof of mouth and hard palate
- projects upward to form part of lateral wall of nasal cavity
LACRIMAL Bones:
- 2; small, thin bones forming the medial surface of the eye
orbits
- lateral surface → depression or fossa → holds lacrimal sac →
canal for lacrimal duct (tears)
HYOID Bones
Small, U-shaped bone
Anterior part of the neck inferior to mandible
Does not articulate with any bone
Suspended from styloid processes of the temporal
bone
Hyoid bone
Foramina of the Skull
View of skull inferiorly → observe floor of cranial cavity →
biggest foramina is foramen magnum
Number of much smaller foramina or openings → penetrate
individual bones of the skull
All have names; are passageways for blood vessels and
nerves entering and exiting various organs of the skull
II. VERTEBRAL COLUMN
Flexible, but sturdy, longitudinal support for the trunk
(torso)
Parts
7 Cervical
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral (become fused as sacrum)
3-5 Coccygeal vertebrae ( form a single coccyx or
tailbone)
Separated from each other by intervertebral disks → as
shock absorbers and allow bending of the spinal column
Typical vertebra :
Four curvatures
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
III. THORACIC CAGE
Thorax, rib cage
Formed by the ribs, costal cartilages,
sternum and thoracic vertebrae
Bony cage enclosing the heart and
lungs
Supports the bones of the shoulder
girdle and bones of upper extremities
A. RIBS:
12 pairs; referred to as costae
True ribs
1st
seven pairs; attached directly to the sternum by
costal cartilages
False ribs
last 5 pairs; join sternum indirectly
8th, 9th, 10th pairs – attached to cartilage of 7th ribs
Floatingribs – 11th, 12th ribs ; have no cartilage and do
not attach anteriorly
B. STERNUM
Breastbone, Flat elongated bone
resembling a sword
3 parts
Manubrium ( T-shaped)
Gladiolus (body)
Xiphoid process
Suprasternal or jugular notch
Large prominent dip at apex
Sternal angle or Angle of Louis
Angle b/n manubrium and body
Appendicular Skeleton
Pectoral girdle and bones of the
upper extremities
Pelvis girdle and bones of the lower
extremities
Composed of 126 bones
I. PECTORAL GIRDLE
Shoulder girdle
2 clavicles (collarbones)
S-shaped, long and slim bones;
root of neck and anterior to 1st
rib
2 scapulae (Shoulder blades)
Flat, triangular bones on each
side of vertebral column
(dorsal)
Do not articulate with the axial
skeleton and is held in place
by muscles providing freedom
of movement for shoulders
II. PELVIC GIRDLE
Coxae, coxal bones
Formed by 3 fused bones
Ilium
Ischium
Pubis
Diarthroses or Synovial joints
Ball-and-socket joint (multiaxial)
Allows the widest range of movement
Shoulder and hip joint.
Hinge joint (uniaxial)
Limits movement to flexion and extension;
Knee, elbow, and the middle and distal phalanges of
the fingers and toes.
Pivot joint (uniaxial)
Limits movement to rotation in one plane
Atlas and axis
Condyloid joint or ellipsoidal (biaxial) joint
Allows motion in two planes at right angles to each
other
Wrist joint between the radius and carpal bones.
Saddle joint (biaxial)
Allows movement in two planes at right angles to one
another
Found only in the thumb
Gliding joint (multiaxial) allows only gliding motion,
as the intervertebral joints in the spine.
