The Skeletal System

Outline
 Objectives
At the end of this chapter the student should be
able to:
• Define the overall concept of skeletel system.

• Mention the types of skeletel system and its part.

• Define bone and its characteristics.

• Describe bone growth and about types of bone

fracture and healing mechanisms.
• Describe the structure and functional classification of
joints.
 Introduction
The skeletal system consists of the entire framework of
bones and their cartilages, along with the ligaments
and tendons.
Parts of the skeletal system includes;
Bones (skeleton)
Joints, Cartilages
Ligaments=bone to bone, and
Tendon=bone to muscle
The skeleton can be divided into
two main parts.

Axial skeleton: The axial

skeleton consists of 80
bones. It includes bones of
the skull, vertebral column,
and rib cage
 Cont’d
Appendicular skeleton: The appendicular skeleton
consists of 126 bones. Includes; shoulder or pectoral
girdle, arms, hands, pelvic girdle, legs, and feet.
 Bones of the Human Body
• The human skeleton is made up of 206 bones,
including bones of the:
• Skull – including the jaw bone

• Spine – cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae,

sacrum and tailbone (coccyx)
• Arms – shoulder blade (scapula), collar bone
(clavicle), humerus, radius and ulna
 Cont’d
• Chest – ribs and breastbone (sternum)

• Hands – wrist bones (carpals), metacarpals and

phalanges
• Pelvis – hip bones

• Legs – thigh bone (femur), kneecap (patella), shin

bone (tibia) and fibula
• Feet – tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges.
 Functions of Bones
1. Bones provide shape, support, and the framework of
the body.
2. Bones protect internal organs.
3. Bones serve as a storage place for minerals such as
salts, calcium, and phosphorus.
4. Bones play an important role in hematopoiesis
5. Bones provide a place to attach muscles.
6. Bones make movement possible through
articulation
Bone tissue is a type of highly specialized dense
connective tissue and it continuously growing,
remodeling and repairing itself.

Bone is more rigid than other tissues because,

– it contains inorganic salts mainly calcium phosphate &
calcium carbonate.
 Classification of Bones
Bones are classified into four based on their shape and
size.
1. Long bones:

Typically longer than wide

Have a shaft with heads at both ends

Contain mostly compact bone

Function as “levers”

Examples: Femur, humerus

 Cont’d
2. Short bones:

Generally “cube-shape”

Contain mostly spongy bone

Examples: Carpals, tarsals

 Cont’d
3. Flat bones:

Thin and flattened and usually

curved

Thin layers of compact bone

around a layer of spongy bone

Used for muscle attachment or

protection of underlying organs.
Examples: the skull, sternum
(breastbone), and scapula (shoulder
bone).
 Cont’d
4. Irregular bones:

Irregular shape

Do not fit into other bone

classification categories

Example: Vertebrae and hip

 Bone tissues
There are two types of bone tissue.

1. Compact::
• Compact bone is a continuous dense, hard structure
in which spaces can only be distinguished with the aid
of a microscope.
• It provides protection, support and resists the
stresses produced by weight and movements.
 Cont’d
2. Spongy bone tissue:
•It also referred to as trabecular bone tissue, does not
contain osteons
•Spongy (cancellous) bone is lighter and less dense
than compact bone.
•It is always located in the interior of the bone,
protected by a covering of compact bone.
 Gross Anatomy of a Long Bone
Diaphysis
Shaft (middle)
Composed of compact bone
Epiphysis
Growing end of the bone
Composed mostly of spongy
bone
 Structures of a Long Bone
1. Periosteum
Outside covering of the
diaphysis
Fibrous connective tissue
membrane
2. Sharpey’s fibers
Secure periosteum to
underlying bone
3. Arteries
Supply bone cells with
nutrients
 Cont’d
4. Articular cartilage
Covers the external
surface of the
epiphyses

Made of hyaline cartilage

Decreases friction at joint

surfaces.
 Cont’d
5. Medullary cavity
Cavity of the shaft

Contains yellow marrow

(mostly fat) in adults

Contains red marrow (for

blood cell formation) in
infants.
 Bone Markings
Surface features of bones

Sites of attachments for muscles, tendons, and

ligaments

Passages for nerves and blood vessels.

Categories of bone markings are;

Projections and processes – grow out from the

bone surface

Depressions or cavities – indentations

 Types of Bone Cells
Osteocytes
Mature bone cells
Osteoblasts
Bone-forming cells
Osteoclasts
Bone-destroying cell
Break down bone matrix for remodeling
and release of calcium.
• Bone is continually remodeled.

• It is broken down by osteoclasts in a process called

resorption, and formed again by osteoblasts.
• Bone formation and healing slow down as part of the
aging process.
• Osteoporosis: is an age-related loss of bone mass or
density.
 Bone Fractures
Occurs when force exerted against a bone is stronger
than the bone can structurally withstand.

Are treated by reduction and immobilization called

realignment of the bone.

Types of bone fractures

Closed (simple) fracture – break that does not penetrate the
skin
Open (compound) fracture – broken bone penetrates
through the skin
Common Types of Fractures
 Repair of Bone Fractures

Hematoma (blood-filled swelling) is formed.

Break is splinted by fibrocartilage to form a callus.

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
 1. The Axial Skeleton
 Divided into three parts
1. Skull
2. Vertebral column
3. Bony thorax
A. The Skull
 Posses sinuses (frontal, maxillary, ethmoidal and
sphenoidal).
 Bones are joined by sutures.
 Only the mandible is attached by a freely movable
joint.
 Contains two major sets of bones.
 Cranium
 Facial bones
The Skull...
Bones of the Skull
Human Skull, Superior View
Human Skull, Inferior View
Paranasal Sinuses
 Hollow portions of bones surrounding the nasal
cavity.
Paranasal Sinuses...
 Functions of paranasal sinuses;
 Lighten the skull.
 Give resonance and amplification to voice.
The Hyoid Bone
The Fetal Skull

 The fetal skull is large

compared to the infants
total body length.
 The Fetal Skull...
 Fontanelles – fibrous
membranes connecting
the cranial bones

 Allow the brain to grow

 Convert to bone within

24 months after birth
B. The Vertebral Column
The Vertebral Column...

Regions of vertebral column

The Vertebral Column...
Functions of Vertebral column:

Supports head, trunk and upper extremities.

Allowing movement by rotating and moving forward,

backward & sideways.

Protects spinal cord and nerves.

Provide attachment for muscles, ribs and vertebral

structures.
The Vertebral Column...
Abnormal curvatures of the vertebral column:
Scoliosis ( abnormal lateral curvatures).
Kyphosis (abnormal posterior curvature – hunch back)
.

Lordosis (abnormal anterior curvature – sway back).

C. The Bony Thorax
Forms a cage to protect
major organs.

Made-up of three parts

Sternum
Ribs
Thoracic vertebrae
2. The Appendicular Skeleton
The Appendicular Skeleton
 A. The Pectoral (Shoulder) Girdle

 These bones allow the upper limb to have

exceptionally free movement

 Composed of two bones:

 Clavicle – collarbone

 Scapula – shoulder blade

Bones of the Shoulder Girdle...
 Bones of the Upper Limb

• The arm is formed by a

single bone.

 Humerus
 The forearm has two bones.
Includes;

• Ulna

• Radius
 The hand
 Carpals – wrist
 Metacarpals – palm
 Phalanges – fingers
 Bones of the Lower Limbs

 The thigh has one bone.

 Femur – thigh bone

 The leg has two bones
 Tibia
 Fibula
 The foot
 Talus – ankle
 Metatarsals –
 Phalanges – toes

Figure 5.25
 C. Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
 The total weight of the upper body rests on the pelvis

 Protects several organs

 Reproductive organs

 Urinary bladder

 Part of the large intestine

 Hip bones
Bones of the Pelvic Girdle...
Composed of three pair of fused bones

 Ilium

 Ischium

 Pubic bone
The Pelvis
Joints
 Articulations of bones.
 Functions of joints
 Hold bones together
 Allow for mobility
 Ways joints are classified
 Functionally
 Structurally
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
Structural Classification of Joints...
 Fibrous Joints

 Bones united by fibrous

tissue – synarthrosis or
largely immovable.
 Structural Classification of Joints
 Cartilaginous Joints

 Bones connected by cartilage

 Mostly amphiarthrosis

 Examples
 Pubic symphysis
 Intervertebral joints
 Structural Classification of Joints...

 Synovial Joints

 Articulating bones are

separated by a joint cavity.

 Synovial fluid is found in

the joint cavity.
 Features of Synovial Joints-
Diarthroses
 Articular cartilage (hyaline cartilage) covers the
ends of bones.

 Joint surfaces are enclosed by a fibrous articular

capsule.

 Have a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid.

 Ligaments reinforce the joint.

 Structures Associated with the
Synovial Joint
 Bursae – flattened fibrous sacs

 Lined with synovial membranes

 Filled with synovial fluid

 Not actually part of the joint

 Tendon sheath

 Elongated bursa that wraps around a tendon

The Synovial Joint
Types of Synovial Joints Based on
Shape

Figure 5.29a–c
Types of Synovial Joints Based on
Shape
 Inflammatory Conditions
Associated with Joints
 Bursitis – inflammation of a bursa usually caused by a
blow or friction.
 Tendonitis – inflammation of tendon sheaths.

 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.