The Skeleton
The skeleton supports the body, protects internal organs, provides for
movement, stores mineral reserves, and provides a site for blood cell
formation. The bones support and shape the body. The bones protect
delicate internal organs of the body. Bones are also the site of blood
formation. Blood cells are produced in the soft marrow tissu that fills the
internal cavities in some bones. There are 206 bones in an adult human
skeleton. The skeleton is divided into 2 parts: The Axial skeleton and the
Appedicular skeleton. The axial skeleton supports the central axis of the
body. The skull, the vertebral column, and the rib cage. The bones of the
arms and legs, along with the bones of the pelvis and shoulder area, form
the appendicular skeleton.
Structure of Bones
Bones are a solid network of living cells and protein fibers that are
surrounded by deposits of calcium salts. The periosteum is a tough layer of
connective tissue that surrounds the bone. The blood vessels that pass
through the periosteum carry oxygen and nutrients to the bone. Running
through compact bone is a network of tubes known as Haversian canals
that contai blood vessels and nerves. Within bones are cavities that contain
a soft tissue cakked bone marrow. There are 2 types of bone marrow:
yellow and red. Yellow marrow is primarily made up of fat cells. Red
marrow produces red blood cells, some kinds of white blood cells, and cell
fragements called platelets.
Developement of Bones
The skeleton of a newborn baby is composed almost entirely of a type of
connective tissue called cartilage. Cartilage cells are scattered in a network
of protein fibers. Cartilage does not contain blood vessels. Cartilage cells
must rely on nutrients from the tiny blood vessels in surrounding tissues.
Cartilage is replaced by bone during the process of bone formation called
ossification. Osteablasts create bone. Osteocytes maintain cellular
activities of bone. Osteoclasts break down bone. Ossifications begins to
take place up to 7 months before birth. Bone tissue forms as osteoblasts
secrete mineral deposits that replace the cartilage in developing bones.
When the osteoblasts become surrounded by bone tissue, they mature into
osteocytis. When the bones become completely ossified, the person stops
growing. Bone formation also occurs when a bone is broken.
Types of Joints
A place where one bone attaches to another bone is called a joint. The 3
types of joints are Immovable, Slightly movable, and Freely movable.
Immovable Joints: Joints that allow no movement are called immovable
joints. The bones at an immovable joint are interlocked and held together
by connective tissue, or they are fused.
Slightly Movable Joints: Joints that permit a small amount of movement are
called slight movable joints. The bones of slightly movable joints are
separated from each other.
Freely Movable Joints: Joints that permit movement in one or more
directions are called freely movable joints. They are grouped according to
the shapes of the surfaces of the adjacent bones. There are 4 types of
freely movable joints: Ball and socket joints, Hinge joints, Pivot joints, and
Saddle joints.
Structure of Joints
Joints are surrounded by a fibrous joint capsule that helps hold the bones
together while still allowing them to move. The joint capsule consists of 2
layers. One layer forms strips of tough connective tissue called ligaments.
Ligaments are attached to the mebranes that surround bones and hold the
bones together. The other layer produces a substance called synovial fluid.
This forms a thin film within the bone surfaces of a joint. Small sacs of
synovial fluid is called bursae. A bursa reduces friction between the bones
of a joint and also acts as tiny shock absorber. When a tissue is damages,
the body’s response is called inflammation. Symptoms incluse swelling
redness, heat, and pain. Inflammation of a bursa is called bursitis. Too
much fluid fills the bursa, resulting in a painful swelling. A more serious
disorder is arthritis, which involves inflammation of one or more joints.
There are over 100 different types of arthritis. 10% of human population.
