December 6, 2011 SKELETAL SYSTEM Skeletal system is the system of bones, associated cartilages and joints of human body.

. Together these structures form the human skeleton. Skeleton can be defined as the hard framework of human body around which the entire body is built. Almost all the hard parts of human body are components of human skeletal system. Major Parts: Skull: The skull is not one bone, but is made up of several connected bone plates. The bones of the skull protect the brain from trauma and injury. Ribs: Twelve pairs of rib bones wrap around the body to protect organs such as the heart and the lungs. Humerus: The humerus is the main bone found in the upper arm. This bone allows the body to push and pull objects. Radius and Ulna: The forearm, or lower arm, contains two major bones, the radius and ulna. These are parallel to each other and aid in mobility and arm movements. Spine: The spine is composed of 26 individual bones, called vertebrae. These bones work together to support the back and protect the spinal cord from injury. Pelvis and Leg Bones: The bones of the pelvis serve as a solid connection point for the joints of the legs. In the leg, the femur--or thigh bone--connects to the lower fibula and tibia bones. These bones are the largest in the body, supporting both weight and movement. Divisions of Skeletal System: Axial Skeleton: Axial skeleton forms the axis of human body. It consists of Skull, vertebral column and thoracic cage. Appendicular Skeleton: It is the skeleton of appendages of human body. It consists of Shoulder girdle, Skeleton of upper limb, Pelvic girdle and Skeleton of lower limb.

Parts of Axial Skeleton Skull: Skull is that part of human skeleton that forms the bony framework of the head. It consists of 22 different bones that are divided into two groups: bones of cranium and bones of face. Vertebral Column: It is a flexible column of vertebrae, connecting the trunk of human body to the skull and appendages. It is composed of 33 vertebrae which are divided into 5 regions: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, and Coccygeal. Rib Cage: It is a bony cage enclosing vital human organs formed by the sternum and ribs. There are 12 pairs of ribs that are divided into three groups: True ribs, False ribs, and Floating ribs. Parts of Appendicular Skeleton Shoulder Girdle: It attaches the upper limb to body trunk and is formed by two bones: clavicle and scapula. Skeleton of Upper limb: The skeleton of each upper limb consists of 30 bones. These bones are: Humerus, Ulna, Radius, Carpals (8), Metacarpals (5), Phalanges (14). Pelvic Girdle: There are two pelvic girdles (one for each lower limb) but unlike the pectoral girdles, they are jointed with each other at symphysis pubis. Each pelvic girdle is a single bone in adults and is made up of three components: Ileum, Ischium and Pubis. Skeleton of Lower limb: The skeleton of each lower limb consists of 30 bones. These bones are; Femur, Tibia, Patella, Tarsals (7), Metatarsals (5), Phalanges (14). Structure Bones: A bone has an outer part which is dense and compact. The hard outer material gives the bone its shape and strength. Under the compact bone is spongy bone. The spaces are filled with red marrow which produces red blood cells. Some bones like those of the arms and legs are filled with yellow marrow which is mostly fatty tissue. Components of Skeleton: Bones: is a tough and rigid form of connective tissue. It is the weight bearing organ of human body and it is responsible for almost all strength of human skeleton.

Cartilages: is also a form of connective tissue but is not as tough and rigid as bone. The main difference in the cartilage and bone is the mineralization factor. Bones are highly mineralized with calcium salts while cartilages are not. Joints: are important components of human skeleton because they make the human skeleton mobile. A joint occurs between two or more bones, bone and cartilage and cartilage and cartilage. Ligaments: are cordlike bonds. They are elastic, because they keep the bones connected with each other. Joints The bones in your body are held together at different places. The place where two bones meet and come together is called joints. The way bones are held together at the joint determines the kind of movement you can make. * Ball-and-Socket Joints-the rounded end of your upper arm bone fits into a hollow or socket at the end of your shoulder bone. The ball-and-socket joint enables you to move your arms freely. *Hinge Joints-you can move your lower arm or your lower leg in only one direction. The bones in your upper arm are joined to your lower arm by hinge joints. Your upper and lower kegs are also joined by a hinge joint. *Gliding Joints-the small bone of the wrist slide over each other. The joint that connects the lower arm to the hand is called a gliding joint. The backbone is made of separate bones stacked one on tip of the other is connected also with a gliding joint. *Pivot Joints-the joint that connects these bones is called a pivot joint. A pivot joint allows you to turn a part of your body without moving the part which it is connected. Functions of the Skeletal System- Human skeleton perform some important functions that are necessary for survival of human beings. STRENGTH, SUPPORT AND SHAPE: It gives strength, support and shape to the body. Without a hard and rigid skeletal system, human body cannot stand upright, and it will become just a bag of soft tissues without any proper shape PROTECTION OF DELICATE ORGANS: In areas like the rib cage and skull, the skeleton protects inner soft but vital organs like heart and brain from external shocks. Any damage to these organs can prove fatal, therefore protective function of skeleton is very important LEVERAGE FOR MOVEMENTS: Bones of the human skeleton in all parts of body provide attachment to the muscles. These muscles provide motor power for producing movements of body parts. In these movements the parts of skeleton acts

like levers of different types thus producing movements according to the needs of the human body. PRODUCTION OF RED BLOOD CELLS: Bones like the sternum, and heads of tibia have hemopoeitic activity (blood cells production). These are the sites of production of new blood cells. Common Injuries * Sprain: A sudden twist or turn of the joints may cause the ligaments to stretch too much, get twisted or torn. A sprain can be very painful. It can cause swelling and make the skin black and blue. A sprain usually happens at the ankles, knees or waist because there are ligaments in these joints. *Fracture: A fall may cause a break in a bone. A break in the bone is called fracture. In some fractures, the broken bone pierces the skin. This may cause bleeding. This is called an open fracture. There are fractures in which the bone does not pierce the skin. Instead of bleeding, the skin becomes red and swollen. This is what we called a closed fracture. A fall may also cause a spinal fracture , that leads to paralysis. *Dislocation: When bones get out of joint, the injury is called a dislocation. Sometimes the ligaments are torn. Although this is not a serious injury, it can be very painful. *Spina bifida: Spina bifida is a spinal defect that is present at birth. In spina bifida, the spinal cord does not form properly and the vertebrae and skin cannot form around it. Spina bifida results from an error in the development of the embryo that occurs about a month after a woman becomes pregnant. This error may have various causes, including the use of alcohol or certain medications by the pregnant woman or exposure to extreme heat. Genetic factors appear to be very important. *Arthritis: There are more than 100 diseases of the joints referred to as arthritis. Victims of arthritis suffer pain, stiffness, and swelling in their joints. Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, occurs when a joint wears out. Many elderly people have osteoarthritis, and the disease may also occur if a joint has been injured many times. The joints most frequently affected are those of the hands, hips, knees, lower back, and neck. *Rickets: It's a skeletal system disease that causes bowed legs in children due to deficiency of vitamin D and calcium. *Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a disorder in which the spine curves away from the middle (C-shaped) or sideways (S-shaped). Unfortunately, it is difficult for an untrained eye to grasp this type of curving. An indication of scoliosis is if one shoulder of a person appears to be higher than the other, or their pelvis appears to be tilted.