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Bones WMT
Bones WMT
Michael Paff
Dr. Oquendo
Western Medical Terminology
5/28/17
Skeletal System: Bones and Joints
Bones are part of the musculoskeletal system; along with joints, muscles, tendons and
ligaments. But, it is bones that provide the basic structure around which our body is built, as well
as protection for the organs. They also assist in movement serving as a point of muscular
attachment. Joints are the part of the skeletal structure where bones come together with there
being several types; depend on the location in the body. The human body contains 206 bones of
differing types. Long bones make up the arms and legs, Short bones are found in places like the
wrist and ankle. Sesamoid bones tend to be small and rounded in shape found near joints to
increase the efficiency of muscles. The kneecap is the largest sesamoid bone (Chabner 560).
Protect, support and move the body and its organs. The skull, or cranium,
provides protection for the most important organ; the brain. The spinal column
protects the spinal cord and the rib cage protects the heart and lungs. The bones of
the lower body, legs and pelvic girdle, as well as the spinal column hold the body
up. While muscles are responsible for our movements, they only function due
osteocytes (bone cells), dense connective tissue strands known as collagen, and
intercellular calcium salts. (chabner, 559) Osteocytes are further broken down
into osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The osteoblast produces the osteocytes that ossify
into bone. The osteoclasts exist to reabsorb bony tissue, generally from the inside
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of the
bones.
The
constant
production and reabsorption gives bones the ability to adapt and constantly renew
themselves.
Bone marrow, in adults, is responsible for blood cell formation, also called
Bone marrow produces all red blood cells, platelets and 60-70 percent of white
blood cells in adulthood. During the embryonic stage of life, first the yolk sac and
then the liver are the most important for the formation of red blood cells.
(www.britannica.com/science/blood-cell-formation).
Bones store and help regulate calcium and phosphorus level in the body. These
levels, particularly calcium, are vitally important for the maintenance of normal
calcium and 85 percent of its phosphorus are in the mineral deposits of bone.
Hormones secreted by the parathyroid gland regulate the release of calcium from
Long bones, such as the thigh and arm bone are composed of a middle region called
diaphysis and each end of a long bone is an epiphysis. There is a plate, or epiphyseal line
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composed of cartilaginous tissue from where the bone grows; also, known as the growth
plate. The area calcifies once the bone has reached full growth. The flared part of the
bone between the epiphysis and the diaphysis is called the metaphysis. The periosteum is
a hard, fibrous cover on the surface of long bones. Articular cartilage covers the ends of
long bones. The bones themselves do not touch, but are cushioned by this thick, smooth
the head. Newborns skulls are not completely joined and have soft spots, called
fontanelles. When these spots harden, the joints are called sutures. The bones of the
cranium are the frontal bone (forehead), parietal bones (one on each side), the temporal
bone (houses the ear and connection for lower jaw), occipital bone (back and base of the
skull), sphenoid bone (attached to frontal, occipital and ethmoid bones) and the ethmoid
segments. There are five divisions that run from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The
cervical vertebrae are the first seven bones making up the neck (C1-C7). The thoracic
vertebrae (T1-T12) connect with 12 pair of ribs. Next, are the 5 lumbar vertebrae (L1-
L5). The sacral vertebrae, or sacrum are five bones that fuse together as a child and the
coccyx is the tailbone, composed of four small bones that also fuse together. Each non-
fused vertebra is separated by an intervertebral disc, which is thick cartilage that works to
absorb force. There is a space in the vertebral body called the neural canal, which the
bones. The scapula, sternum, pelvis and ribs are flat bones, whereas the bones of the
upper and lower extremities are long bones. Bones in the hands and feet are short bones,
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which show similarity in structure: metacarpals of the hand are similar the metatarsals of
the feet.
Cancers of the bone including Ewing sarcoma, a malignant tumor usually diagnosed in
between the ages of 5 and 15, and osteogenic sarcoma where osteoblasts form large bony
tumors most commonly found just above or below the knee. Cancers from other body
parts that metastasize to the bones are called metastatic bone lesions.
Fractures are bones that are broken traumatically. Close fractures are those where the skin
is not broken and open, or compound, fractures break through the skin. Fractures can
occur pathologically, if there is a bone disease, tumor or infection. Some of the types of
fractures are:
o Colles fractures which occur close to the wrist on the radius
o Compression fractures which are most often happen in the vertebrae
o Greenstick fracture is a bone that partially breaks; bending on one side and
bones. As the bones, thin and weaken fractures can occur, as well as loss of height.
Joints are where two or more bones come together and is called an articulation
Suture joints are immovable articulations, such as the bones of the skull. And, some
Synovial joints make up the moveable joints in the body. Hinge joints like the knee and
elbow, and ball and socket joints like the hip and shoulder are synovial joints. Synovial
joints are surrounded by a joint capsule and ligaments connect one bone another.
Bursae are small sac of synovial fluid located near joints. They aid in reducing friction in
body parts that need to slide past one another during movement.
foot.
Dislocations are usually cause by trauma. The joint no
Doctors who specialize in the treatment of bones are orthopedists, or orthopedic surgeons
who specialize in the treatment injuries and diseases of the bones, joints and ligaments.
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therapeutic treatments based on the idea that, when the bones are aligned, the body can
that disease is caused by pressure on the nerves as they exit the spinal column.
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Works Cited
Chabner, Davi-Ellen. The Language of Medicine. St. Louis. Sanders. 2007. Print.
Green, Daniel. ACE Personal Trainer Manual. San Diego. American Council on Exercise. 2010.
Print.
formation