The Skeletal System

Zorenne B. Basilio, RN
Objectives
• 1. Discuss various concepts and principles of
anatomy in the care of individuals. (PO/SLO 1 PI 1)
• 2. Recognize ability to manage information,
theories, and concepts of anatomy and physiology
to be effective and efficient in clients care. (PO/SLO
3 PI 1)
 “Essential Question”

What is the purpose of the

skeletal system?
 Functions of the Skeletal System
A) Support – The bones act as the structural framework for
the body by providing attachment sites for muscles.
B) Protection – Many of the body’s internal organs are
covered by bony structures.
C) Movement – Bones assist skeletal muscles to produce
movement.
D) Maintain mineral homeostasis – Bones store and release
salts of calcium and phosphorus.
E) Hemopoiesis – The production of blood cells occurs in the
red marrows of the bones.
F) Triglyceride storage – This occurs in the yellow marrow of
adults.
The Skeletal System
•Skeleton comes from a
Greek word meaning dried
up body.
•Bone appears dead and
dried up, but it is not!
•Bone is living tissue
•Newborn human has 350
bones
•Adult human has 206 bones
• Parts of the skeletal
system
• Bones (skeleton)
• Joints
• Cartilages
• Ligaments (bone to
bone)(tendon=bone to
muscle)
Functions of Bones
• Support of the body (framework)
• Protection of soft organs
• Serve as levers (with help from
muscles)
• Storage of minerals and fats (calcium)
• Blood cell formation
Bones of the Human Body
• Two basic types of bone tissue
• Compact bone
• Dense/hard
• Spongy bone
• (Cancellous)
Many open spaces
Decrease wt of bone/contain red bone marrow
Classification of Bones
• Long bones
• Typically longer than wide
• Have a shaft with heads at both ends
• Contain mostly compact bone
• Found in legs and arms
• Examples: Femur, humerus
Classification of Bones
• Short bones
• Generally cube-shape and small
• Contain mostly spongy bone
• Found in wrist, ankles, and toes
• Examples: Carpals, tarsals
Classification of Bones
• Flat bones
• Thin and flattened
• Usually curved
• Cover organs/provide surface for lg. muscle
• Thin layers of compact bone around a layer
of spongy bone
• Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum
Classification of Bones on the Basis of Shape

Figure 5.1
Classification of Bones

•Irregular bones
•Irregular shape
•Do not fit into other
bone classification
categories
•Example: Vertebrae
and hip
Gross Anatomy of a Bone
•Diaphysis
•Shaft
•Composed of compact
bone
•Epiphysis
•Ends of the bone
•Composed mostly of
spongy bone
Structure of a Long Bone
•Periosteum
•Outside covering of the
diaphysis
•Fibrous connective tissue
membrane
Serves as an attachment for
muscle
•Arteries
•Supply bone cells with
nutrients
Structure of a Long Bone

•Articular cartilage
•Covers the external
surface of the
epiphyses
•Made of hyaline
cartilage
•Decreases friction at
joint surfaces
Structure of a Long Bone
•Medullary cavity
•Cavity of the shaft
•Contains yellow
marrow (mostly fat) in
adults
•Contains red marrow
(for blood cell
formation) in infants
 Changes in the Human Skeleton
• In embryos, the skeleton is primarily hyaline
cartilage
• During development, much of this cartilage
is replaced by bone
• Cartilage remains in isolated areas
• Bridge of the nose
• Parts of ribs
• Joints
Bone Growth
• Epiphyseal plates allow for growth of
long bone during childhood
• New cartilage is continuously formed
• Older cartilage becomes ossified
• Cartilage is broken down
• Bone replaces cartilage
Bone Growth
• Bones are remodeled and lengthened until growth
stops
• Grow longitudinally for height
• Bones grow in width to support weight
Epiphyseal Disc
•Growth plate
•The cartilage near the
epiphyseal disc multiplies
and eventually becomes
ossified (turns to bone)
•As long as new cartilage
continues to form the bone
continues to lengthen.
Epiphyseal Disc (cont.)
•When the growth plate hardens
and becomes ossified, growth
stops
•Hormones play a big part in this
•Growth hormone stimulates
growth
•Sex hormones stop growth
Bone Width

•Long after longitudinal bone growth

has stopped, bones continue to grow
in thickness and width.
•Bones are continuously being
reshaped
Types of Bone Cells
• Osteocytes
• Mature bone cells
• Osteoblasts
• Bone-forming cells
• Osteoclasts
• Bone-destroying cells
• Break down bone matrix for remodeling and
release of calcium
• Bone remodeling is a process by both
osteoblasts and osteoclasts
Long Bone Formation and Growth
Bone Fractures
• A break in a bone
• Types of bone fractures
• Closed (simple) fracture – break that does not
penetrate the skin
• Open (compound) fracture – broken bone
penetrates through the skin
• Bone fractures are treated by reduction
and immobilization
• Realignment of the bone
Dislocation of joint
•Displacement of bones
at the joint
• Often caused by impact
trauma to that joint
•Can be more damaging
and painful than a
fracture
• Damage to the joint
capsule and surrounding
ligaments and tendons
often takes much longer
to heal than bone tissue.
Repair of Bone Fractures
• Hematoma (blood-filled swelling) is formed
• Break is splinted by fibrocartilage to form a
soft callus
• Blood vessels grow into the hematoma
• Fibrocartilage callus is replaced by a bony
callus
• Bony callus is remodeled to form a
permanent patch
Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture
 Skeletal System
Divided into two divisions
• Axial skeleton -bones of the cranium,
face, vertebral column, and bony thorax.
• Appendicular skeleton - includes the
bones of the pelvic girdles, the upper
extremities and lower extremities.
The Axial Skeleton
• Forms the longitudinal part of the body
• Divided into three parts
• Skull
• Vertebral column
• Bony thorax
The Skull (28 bones) (18 names)
• Sits on top of the vertebral column
• Two sets of bones
• Cranium (8 bones)
• Facial bones (14 bones)
• Bones are joined by sutures
• Only the mandible is attached by a freely
movable joint
The Cranium
• Bony structure that encases and protects the brain.

•8 bones
•Frontal Bone -forehead/upper
part of the bony structure
surrounding the eyes.
The Cranium

•Parietal Bone (2) ~ upper

sides of the head and the roof
of the cranial cavity (top of
the head)
The Cranium
•Temporal Bones (2) ~ sides of the head,
close to ears.
•Commonly called the temples
•Includes the external auditory meatus
•Opening for the ear
•Includes the zygomatic process
•Part of the cheekbone
The Cranium
•Occipital Bone ~ back and base of the
cranium
•Includes the foramen
magnum
•Foramen means hole
•Large hole for the
brainstem/spinal cord
The Cranium
• Sphenoid Bone ~ forms sides of cranium and parts
of orbits of the eyes
• Butterfly shaped
•Includes Sella Turcica (Turk’s
Saddle)
•Where pituitary gland sits
The Cranium
•Ethmoid Bone ~ irregularly shaped
bone located between the eye
orbits
•Major supporting bone of the nasal
cavity
The Skull
Bones of the Skull
Human Skull, Superior View
Human Skull, Inferior View
The Cranium
•That’s it! No more cranium
bones!

•206 bones - 8 bones = 198 bones

to go…
Facial Bones

•14 bones
•Most of these bones come in pairs
•Only the mandible and vomer are
single bones
Facial Bones
•Mandible ~ the lower jaw bone
•Carries the lower teeth
•The anterior portion forms the
chin
•Only freely movable joint in the
skull
Facial Bones
•Maxilla (2) ~ Upper jaw
•Two bones fused together
•Roof of the mouth
•Also form parts of the nasal cavity and
eye orbits
Facial Bones
•Palantine Bones (2) ~ form the posterior
part of the hard palate and the floor of
the nasal cavity.
•Failure of the palatine and/or
maxillary bones to fuse causes a cleft
palate.
The Facial Bones
•Zygomatic Bones (2) ~ the cheekbones
•Also forms a part of the orbits of the
eyes
Facial Bones

•Other Facial Bones

•Lacrimal Bones (2) ~ inner wall of eye
sockets
•Nasal Bones (2) ~ bridge of nose
•Vomer ~ nasal septum
•Inferior Nasal Conchae (2)
Facial Bones
•That’s it! No more facial bones!

•198 bones - 14 bones = 184 bones

to go…
½ Lengthwise
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
Paranasal Sinuses
• Functions of paranasal sinuses
• Air filled cavities
• Lighten the skull
• Give resonance and amplification to voice
The Hyoid Bone
• U shaped

• Found in the upper

neck

• The only bone that

does not articulate with
another bone

• Serves as a moveable
base for the tongue Figure 5.12
Hyoid Bone
Middle Ear
•3 Tiny bones ~
transmit vibrations
•All derived from
Latin words
•Malleus (hammer)
•Incus (anvil)
•Stapes (stirrup)
• Smallest bone in
the body
Middle Ear and Hyoid Bones

•That’s it!

•184 bones - 4 bones = 180

bones to go…
The Vertebral Column

•The backbone
or spine
•Consists of 26
bones called
vertebrae
The Vertebral
Column
• Vertebrae separated by
intervertebral discs (act as
shock absorbers)
• The spine has a normal
curvature
• Each vertebrae is given a
name according to its
location
•C1-C7 ~ in the neck
region
• 7 cervical vertebrae
•T1-T12 ~ located in
the chest region
• 12 thoracic vertebrae
•L1-L5 ~ located in
the lower back
• 5 lumbar vertebrae
•Sacrum ~ curved
bone of the lower
back (posterior wall
of the pelvis)
•fused sacral
vertebrae
• 5 vertebrae at birth
•Coccyx ~ the tailbone
• 4 vertebrae at birth
Vertebral Column
•The vertebrae
become larger as the
vertebral column
descends…..WHY?
•Vertebral foramen ~
opening for spinal
cord.
•What is the opening
for the spinal cord in
the skull called?
Vertebral Column

•180 bones - 26 vertebral

column bones = 154 bones to
go!
The Bony Thorax (Thoracic Cage)
• The chest
region
• Forms a cage to
protect major
organs
• Composed of
sternum, ribs
and thoracic
vertebrae.
Thoracic Cage
•Sternum ~
breastbone.
•Dagger-shaped
bone located
along the
midline of the
anterior chest.
Thoracic Cage
•Ribs ~ 12 pairs of
ribs attach
posteriorly to the
thoracic vertebrae
•True ribs ~ first 7
pair
•False ribs ~ last 5
pairs
That is it for the
axial skeleton!

•154 bones
- 24 ribs -1
sternum =
129 bones
to go!!!
The Appendicular Skeleton

• Limbs (appendages)
• Pectoral (shoulder) girdle
• Pelvic girdle
 The Appendicular Skeleton

Figure 5.6c
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Slide
The Pectoral
(Shoulder) Girdle
• Composed of two bones
• Clavicle – collarbone
• Scapula – shoulder blade
• These bones allow the
upper limb to have
exceptionally free
movement
Bones of the Shoulder Girdle
 Bones of the Upper Limb

• The arm is
formed by a
single bone
• Humerus
• Head of
humerus
allows for
rotation

Figure 5.21a, b
 Bones of the Upper Limb

• The forearm
has two bones
• Ulna
• Radius
Radius
•Radius ~ locate
on the lateral
or thumb side
when the palm
of the hand is
facing forward.
Ulna
•Ulna~ the longer
of the two
forearm bones.
•Located on the
medial or little
finger side of the
forearm.
Bones of the Upper Limb
• The hand
• Carpals – wrist
• Metacarpals –
palm
• Phalanges –
fingers
Figure 5.22
Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
• Composed of two coxal bones (hip bones)
• Composed of three pair of fused bones
• Ilium
• Ischium
• Pubis
• 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
Gender Differences of the Pelvis
 Bones of the Lower Limbs

• The thigh has

one bone
• Femur – thigh
bone

Figure 5.35a, b
Bones of the Lower Limb
•Patella ~ knee
cap
•Triangular bone
located within a
tendon that
passes over the
knee.
 Bones of the Lower Limbs

• The leg has two

bones
•Tibia ~ shin bone
•larger
•Fibula
•Long and thin
 Bones of the Lower Limbs

• The foot
• Tarsal (7)–
ankle
• Metatarsals
(5)–
sole/instep
• Phalanges
(14) – toes
Figure 5.25
 Joints

• Articulations of bones
• Functions of joints
• Hold bones together
• Provide flexibility
• Ways joints are classified
• By their function
• By their structure
 Functional Classification of Joints

• Synarthroses – immovable joints

• Amphiarthroses – slightly moveable
joints
• Diarthroses – freely moveable joints
 Structural Classification of Joints
• Fibrous joints
• Generally
immovable
• Cartilaginous
joints
• Immovable or
slightly moveable
• Synovial joints
• Freely moveable
 Fibrous Joints
• Bones united by fibrous tissue –
synarthrosis or largely immovable.
Cartilaginous Joints – mostly amphiarthrosis
• Bones connected by cartilage
• Examples
• Pubic
symphysis
• Intervertebral
joints

Figure 5.27b, c
 Synovial Joints
• Articulating
bones are
separated by a
joint cavity
• Synovial fluid
is found in the
joint cavity
• Reinforced by
ligaments
 6 Types of Synovial Joints
•Hinge joint
•Movement is like two boards
joined together by a hinge
•Movement in one direction
•Elbow, knees, fingers
•Ball and Socket
Joint
•When ball-shaped
end of one bone
fits into the cup-
shaped socket of
another
•Bones can move in
many directions
•Shoulder, hip
•Pivot Joint
•Allows for rotation
around the length of a
bone.
•Allows only for
rotation
•Head (side to side
“no” action)
•Forearm joints (palms)
supination/pronation
•Saddle Joint
• When the surfaces
of both articulation
bones are saddle-
shaped
• Concave/convex
• Thumb
• Wide range of
motion
•Gliding Joint
•Interaction of
flat surfaces of
articulating
bones
•Limited but
complex
movement
•Wrist, ankle
•Condyloid Joint
• Oval-shaped
articular surface
of one bone fits
into the oval-
shaped
depression of
another
• Mandible,
knuckles
Inflammatory Conditions Associated with Joints

• Bursitis – inflammation of a bursa usually

caused by a blow or friction
Inflammatory Conditions Associated with Joints

• Tendonitis – inflammation of tendon sheaths

Inflammatory Conditions Associated with Joints

• Arthritis – inflammatory or degenerative

diseases of joints
• Over 100 different types
• The most widespread crippling disease in the
United States
Clinical Forms of Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Most common chronic arthritis
• Probably related to normal aging processes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• An autoimmune disease – the immune system
attacks the joints
• Symptoms begin with bilateral inflammation of
certain joints
• Often leads to deformities
Clinical Forms of Arthritis
• Gouty Arthritis
• Inflammation of joints is caused by a
deposition of urate crystals from the blood
• Can usually be controlled with diet
• Red meat and wine are high in uric acid