The Skeletal System

• Parts of the skeletal system include:

– Bones (skeleton)

– Joints

– Cartilages

– Ligaments

• Divided into two divisions:

1. Axial skeleton – 80 bones

2. Appendicular skeleton – 126 bones

 Functions of Bones
• Framework
– Supports muscle, fat and skin

• Protection
– Surrounds vital organs like skull, ribs, pelvis

• Movement
– Muscles attach to bones to provide movement

• Mineral homeostasis
– Stores and maintain minerals (Calcium & phosphorus)
• Production of blood cells
– Red bone marrow – produes Red and white blood cells and platelets

• Storage
– Calcium
– Yellow bone marrow – has adipocytes – stores fat.
 Classification of Bones
• Long bones
– Typically longer than wide
– Have a shaft with heads at both ends
– Contain mostly compact bone
• Examples: Femur, humerus

• 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
• Irregular bones
– Irregular in shape
– Do not fit into other bone classification
categories
• Example: Vertebrae and hip
 Gross Anatomy
of a Long Bone
• Diaphysis
– Shaft
– Composed of compact
bone
• Epiphysis
– Ends of the bone
– Composed mostly of
spongy bone
Divisions of the Skeletal System
 The Axial Skeleton
• Forms the longitudinal part of the body
• Divided into three parts
– Skull
– Vertebral column
– Bony thorax
 Skull (Cranium)
• Consists of 22 bones
• Bones of the skull are grouped into two categories:
– Cranial bones - Eight cranial bones form the cranial cavity
– Frontal bone,
– two parietal bones,
– two temporal bones,
– the occipital bone,
– the sphenoid bone,
– ethmoid bone
– Facial bones - Fourteen facial bones form the face
– Two nasal bones,
– two maxillae,
– two zygomatic bones,
– the mandible,
– two lacrimal bones,
– two palatine bones,
– two inferior nasal conchae and vomer
 Skull
• The cranial and facial bones protect and support
special sense organs and the brain.
• Besides forming the large cranial cavity, the skull
also forms several smaller cavities
– Nasal cavity
– Orbits (eye sockets)
– Paranasal sinuses
– Small cavities which house organs involved in hearing
and equilibrium
Bones of the Skull
 Skull
• Immovable joints called sutures fuse most of the skull
bones together.

• The skull provides large areas of attachment for

muscles that move various parts of the head.

• Skull and facial bones provide attachment for muscles

that produce facial expressions.

• The facial bones form the framework of the face and

provide support for the entrances to the digestive and
respiratory systems.
 Skull (Cranial Bones)
• Frontal Bone
– Forms the forehead
• Parietal Bones
– Form the sides and roof of the cranial cavity
• Temporal Bones
– Form the lateral aspects and floor of the cranium
• Occipital Bone
– Forms the posterior part and most of the base of the cranium
• Sphenoid Bone
– Lies at the middle part of the base of the skull
• Ethmoid Bone
– Located on the midline in the anterior part of the cranial floor medial to
the orbits
– A major superior supporting structure of the nasal cavity
– Contain thin projections called conchae which are lined by mucous
membranes
– Increased surface area in the nasal cavity helps to humidify inhaled air
trapping inhaled particles
Posterior View
 Skull (Facial Bones)
• Nasal Bones

– Form the bridge of the nose

• Maxillae

– Form the upper jawbone and most of the hard palate

– Separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity

• Zygomatic Bones (Cheek bones)

– form the prominences of the cheeks

• Lacrimal Bones

– Form a part of the medial wall of each orbit

• Palatine Bones

– Form the posterior portion of the hard palate

• Inferior Nasal Conchae

– Form a part of the inferior lateral wall of the nasal cavity

 Skull (Facial Bones)
• Vomer

– Forms the inferior portion of the nasal septum

• Mandible

– Lower jawbone and the only movable skull bone

– The largest, strongest facial bone

• Nasal Septum

– Divides the interior of the nasal cavity into right and left sides

• Orbits

– Eye socket

• Foramina

– Openings for blood vessels, nerves or ligaments of the skull

Sphenoid Bone
Ethmoid Bone & Vomer
Mandible
 Paranasal Sinuses
• Hollow portions of bones surrounding the
nasal cavity
• Functions:
– Lighten the skull
– Give resonance and
amplification to voice
– Warm and moisten
air
 The Hyoid Bone
• The only bone that
does not articulate
with another bone
• Serves as a
moveable base for
the tongue
• The hyoid bone also
helps to keep the
larynx (voice box)
open at all times
 Vertebral Column
• Also called the spine, backbone, or spinal column
• Functions:
– Protect the spinal cord
– Support the head
– Serve as a point of attachment for the ribs, pelvic girdle, and
muscles

• The vertebral column is curved to varying degrees in

different locations
– Curves increase the column strength
– Help maintain balance in the upright position
– Absorb shocks during walking, and help protect the vertebrae from
fracture
 Vertebral Column
• Composed of a series of bones called vertebrae
(Adult=26)
– 7 cervical are in the neck region

– 12 thoracic are posterior to the thoracic cavity

– 5 lumbar support the lower back

– 1 sacrum consists of five fused sacral vertebrae

– 1 coccyx consists of four fused coccygeal vertebrae

 Vertebral Column

Cervical Vertebrae(7)
Thoracic Vertebrae (12)
Lumbar Vertebrae (5)
Sacrum
Coccyx
 Intervertebral Discs
• Found between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae
• Functions to:
– Form strong joints
– Permit various movements of the vertebral column
– Absorb vertical shock

• Vertebrae typically consist of:

– A Body (weight bearing)
– A vertebral arch (surrounds the spinal cord)
– Several processes (points of attachment for muscles)
 Vertebral Column (Regions)
• Cervical Region
– Cervical vertebrae (C1–C7)
– The atlas (C1) is the first cervical vertebra
– The axis (C2) is the second cervical vertebra
• Thoracic Region
– Thoracic vertebrae (T1–T12)
– Articulate with the ribs
• Lumbar Region
– Lumbar vertebrae (L1–L5)
– Provide for the attachment of the large back muscles
• Sacrum
– The sacrum is a triangular bone formed by the union of five
sacral vertebrae (S1–S5)
– Serves as a strong foundation for the pelvic girdle
• Coccyx
– The coccyx, like the sacrum, is triangular in shape
– It is formed by the fusion of usually four coccygeal vertebrae
Cervical Thoracic
Vertebrae Vertebrae
Comparison of Vertebrae
Sacrum & Coccyx
 Thorax
• Thoracic cage is formed by the:
– Sternum
– Ribs
– Costal cartilages
– Thoracic vertebrae
• Functions to:
– Enclose and protect the organs in the thoracic and
abdominal cavities
– Provide support for the bones of the upper limbs
– Play a role in breathing
 Thorax
• Sternum
– “Breastbone” located in the center of the thoracic wall
– Consists of the manubrium, body, xiphoid process
• Ribs
– Twelve pairs of ribs give structural support to the sides of the
thoracic cavity
– True ribs (7 pairs), False ribs (3 Pairs) and floating ribs(2 pairs).
• Costal cartilages
– Costal cartilages contribute to the elasticity of the thoracic cage
THORAX
Rib
Sternum

• Three parts
– Manubrium
– Body
– Xiphoid process
 The Appendicular Skeleton

• Limbs (appendages)
• Pectoral girdle
• Pelvic girdle
 Upper Limb
• The pectoral girdle consists of two bones,
the scapula and the clavicle
• The free part has 30 bones
• 1 humerus (arm)
• 1 ulna (forearm)
• 1 radius (forearm)
• 8 carpals (wrist)
• 19 metacarpal and phalanges (hand)
 The Pectoral (Shoulder) Girdle
• Composed of two bones
– Clavicle – collarbone
– Scapula – shoulder blade
• These bones allow the upper limb to have
exceptionally free movement.
• The clavicle is convex in shape anteriorly
near the sternal junction
• The clavicle is concave anteriorly on its
lateral edge near the acromion
Bones of the Shoulder Girdle
 Pectoral Girdle - Scapula
• Also called the shoulder blade
• Triangular in shape
• Most notable features include the spine,
acromion, coracoid process and the
glenoid cavity
Bones of the Shoulder Girdle
 Features on the Scapula
• Spine - a large process on the posterior of
the scapula that ends laterally as the
acromion
• Acromion - the flattened lateral portion of
the spine of the scapula
• Coracoid process - a protruding projection
on the anterior surface just inferior to the
lateral aspect of the clavicle
• Glenoid cavity - shallow concavity that
articulates with the head of the humerus
 Skeleton of the Arm - Humerus
• Longest and largest bone of the free part
of the upper limb
• The proximal ball-shaped end articulates
with the glenoid cavity of the scapula
• The distal end articulates at the elbow with
the radius and ulna
 Bones of the Upper Limb
• The arm is formed by a single bone- Humerus
 Skeleton of the Forearm - Ulna
• The longer of the two forearm bones

• Located medial to the radius

• Olecranon - the large, prominent proximal end, the “tip of

your elbow”

• Coronoid process - the anterior “lip” of the proximal ulna

• Trochlear notch - the deep fossa that receives the

trochlea of the humerus during elbow flexion

• Styloid process - the thin cylindrical projection on the

posterior side of the ulna’s head
 Radius
• Lies lateral to the ulna (thumb side of the forearm)

• The head (disc-shaped) and neck are at the

proximal end

• The head articulates with the capitulum of the

humerus and the radial notch of the ulna

• Radial tuberosity - medial and inferior to neck,

attachment site for biceps brachii muscle

• Styloid process - large distal projection on lateral

side of radius
Radius & Ulna
 Bones of the Upper Limb
• The hand
– Carpals – wrist
– Metacarpals –
palm
– Phalanges –
fingers
 Skeleton of the Hand
• The carpus (wrist) consists of 8 small bones
(carpals)

• Two rows of carpal bones

• Proximal row - scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform

• Distal row - trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate

• Scaphoid - most commonly fractured

• Carpal tunnel - space between carpal bones and

flexor retinaculum
 Metacarpals and Phalanges
• Five metacarpals - numbered I-V, lateral to
medial

• 14 phalanges - two in the thumb (pollex)

and three in each of the other fingers

• Each phalanx has a base, shaft, and head

• Joints - carpometacarpal,
metacarpophalangeal, interphalangeal
 Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
• Hip bones
• Composed of three pair of fused bones
– Ilium
– Ischium
– Pubic bone

• The total weight of the upper body rests on the pelvis

• Protects several organs
– Reproductive organs
– Urinary bladder
– Part of the large intestine
The Pelvis
The Pelvis: Right Coxal Bone
 The Ilium
• Largest of the three hip bones

• Ilium is the superior part of the hip bone

• Consists of a superior ala and inferior body which

forms the acetabulum (socket for head of the femur)

• Superior border - iliac crest

• Hip pointer - occurs at anterior superior iliac spine

• Greater sciatic notch - allows passage of sciatic nerve

 Ischium and Pubis
• Ischium - inferior and posterior part of the hip
bone
• Most prominent feature is the ischial
tuberosity, it is the part that meets the chair
when you are sitting
• Pubis - inferior and anterior part of the hip
bone
• Superior and inferior rami and body
Comparing Male and Female Pelves
FEMUR
 Skeleton of the Thigh - Femur and Patella

• Femur - longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the

body

• Proximally, the head articulates with the acetabulum

of the hip bone forming the hip (coxal) joint

• Neck - distal to head, common site of fracture

• Distally, the medial and lateral condyles articulate

with the condyles of the tibia forming the knee joint

• Also articulates with patella

 Patella
• Largest sesamoid bone in the body
• Forms the patellofemoral joint
• Superior surface is the base
• Inferior, narrower surface is the apex
• Thick articular cartilage lines the posterior surface
• Increases the leverage of the quadriceps femoris
muscle
TIBIA & FIBULA
 Tibia (shin bone)
• The larger, medial weight-bearing bone of leg
• The lateral and medial condyles at the proximal
end articulate with the femur
• It articulates distally with the talus and fibula
• Tibial tuberosity - attachment site for the patellar
ligament
• Medial malleolus - medial surface of distal end
(medial surface of ankle joint)
 Fibula
• The smaller, laterally placed bone of leg
• Non-weight bearing
• The head forms the proximal tibiofibular
joint
• Lateral malleolus - distal end, articulates
with the tibia and the talus at the ankle
 Bones of Lower Limbs

• The foot
– Tarsus – ankle
– Metatarsals – sole
– Phalanges – toes
 Skeleton of the Foot - Tarsals,
Metatarsals & Phalanges
• Seven tarsal bones - talus (articulates with
tibia and fibula), calcaneus (the heel bone,
the largest and strongest), navicular, cuboid
and three cuneiforms

• Five metatarsals - (I-V) base, shaft, head

• 14 phalanges (big toe is the hallux)

• Tarsus = ankle