The Skeletal

System:
Structure, Function, and
Diseases
of the bones and joints
Lesson Outcomes
Point Outcome
1 To be able to classify bones based on
shape
2 To be able to describe what are joints

3 To be able to identify the two types of

joints as either being fixed or movable.
4 To be able to identify the two types of
movable joints
5 To be able to describe the structure of a
moveable joint
The Skeletal System
 Parts of the skeletal system
 Bones (skeleton)
 Joints
 Cartilages
 Ligaments (bone to bone)(tendon=bone to
muscle)
Functions of Bones

 Support of the body

 Protection of soft organs
 Movement due to attached skeletal
muscles
 Blood cell formation
 Bones of the Human Body
 The skeleton has 206 bones
 Two basic types of bone tissue
 Compact bone
 Homogeneous
 Spongy bone
 Small needle-like
pieces of bone
Figure 5.2b

 Many open spaces

Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Bones are classified by their
shape:
1.Long- bones are longer than
they are wide (arms, legs)
2.Short- usually square in shape,
cube like (wrist, ankle)
3.Flat- flat , curved (skull,
Sternum)
4.Irregular- odd shapes
(vertebrae, pelvis)
 Classification of Bones on the
Basis of Shape

Figure 5.1

Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

 Joints
• A joint is the place where two bones come
together.

• Types:
– Fixed joints :
• connect bones,
• no movement of bones.
• e.g. bones in the skull and pelvis.
 Joints
• Types (continued):
– Freely movable :
• connects bones
• Allows bones connected to move
• Can either be hinge joints or ball – and –
socket joints.
 Types of Movable Joints
Hinge- A hinge joint allows extension
and retraction. (Elbow, Knee)
Ball and Socket- A ball and socket joint
allows for movement in almost any
direction. They are found in the hips and
shoulders. (Hip, Shoulder)
Gliding- In a gliding or plane joint bones
slide past each other. Mid-carpal and mid-
tarsal joints are gliding joints. (Hands,
Feet)
Saddle- This type of joint occurs when the
touching surfaces of two bones have both
concave and convex regions with the
shapes of the two bones complementing
one other and allowing a wide range of
movement. (Thumb)
The Moveable Joint

The elbow joint

The Moveable Joint
• The diagram above shows
the elbow joint.
• Friction between bones
cause discomfort.
The Moveable Joint
• Cartilage (a smooth, slippery
material) covers the the ends of
the two bones at the joint.
• Synovial fluid (a thick, slippery
fluid) fills up the spaces between
the two bones. The synovial fluid
helps lubricate the joint.