3.

SKELETAL
SYSTEM
 Skeletal System
 The skeleton gives a basis for the external
structure and appearance of most vertebrate
animals.
 The skeleton of a living animal is made up of
bones that are themselves living structures.
they have blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and
nerves;
they are subject to disease;
they can undergo repair;
they adjust to changes in stress.
 Functions of Bones

 Providing protection
 Giving rigidity and form to the body
 Acting as levers
 Storing of minerals
 Forming the cellular elements of
blood
 Protection of vital organs is one of the important functions of bones. The central nervous
system is protected by the skull and vertebral column; the heart and lungs, by the rib cage; and
internal parts of the urogenital system, by the pelvis.

In the vertebrates, locomotion, defense, offense, grasping, and other activities of this type
depend largely upon the action of muscles that attach to levers. Almost without exception, these
levers are made of bone and are integral parts of the skeleton.

The entire skeleton serves as a dynamic storage area for minerals, particularly calcium and
phosphorus. These minerals are deposited and withdrawn as needed in the ongoing homeokinetic
process.

Blood formation is not strictly a function of bone itself but of the marrow within the cavity
of long bones and the spongy substance of all young bones.
Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

 Long bones – function chiefly as levers and

aid in support, locomotion, and prehension.
*Thoracic limb – humerus, radius, ulna,
metacarpals,
phalanges
*Pelvic limb – femur, tibia, fibula,
metatarsal, phalanges
Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

 Short bones – are cuboid, or approximately

equal in all dimensions and they absorb
concussion.
*Carpus– the “knee” of the thoracic limb
*Tarsus – where variety of movements as
well as absorption of shock
occur
Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

 Flat bones – relatively thin, function chiefly

for protection of vital organs;
*brain – skull
*heart and lungs – scapulae and ribs
*pelvic viscera - pelvis
 Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

 Sesamoid bones – occur along the of

tendons to reduce friction, increase
leverage, or change the direction of pull.
*The patella (kneecap) is the largest
sesamoid bone in the body.
 Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

 Pneumatic bones – contain air spaces or

sinuses that communicate with the
atmosphere.
*frontal bones and maxillary bones of
the skull
 Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

 Irregular bones – unpaired bones on the

median plane.
- they feature prominent processes and
offer protection, support, and muscular
attachment.
*vertebra and some of the unpaired
bones of the skull
 Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

1. Axial Skeleton – lies on the long axis

(midline) of the body.

a. Skull – protects the brain

- supports many of the sense organ
- forms passages for entry to the
digestive and respiratory system
Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

b. Vertebrae
Cervical vertebra – neck region
Thoracic vertebra – chest
Lumbar vertebra – loin
sacral vertebra – pelvis
caudal (coccygeal) - tail
Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

c. Ribs – forms the lateral walls of the bony

thorax

d. Sternum – forms the ventrum of the bony

thorax and gives attachment to the
costal cartilages of the ribs as well
as providing bony origin of the
pectoral muscles.
 Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

2. Appendicular Skeleton
- made up of the bones of the front (pectoral)
and hind (pelvic) limbs as well as their
respective pectoral girdle (shoulder) and
pelvic girdle (pelvis).
a. Pectoral girdle
i. Scapula – shoulder blade
ii. Clavicle – collarbone (birds)
 Classification of Bones According to gross Appearance

b. Pelvic girdle
i. ilium – the largest and most dorsal of the
pelvic bones
ii. Ischium – has a large roughened caudal
prominence, commonly called the pin
bone in cattle
iii. Pubis – smallest of the 3 pelvic
bone forms the cranial part of the
floor of the pelvic cavity
 Fractures of the Bone

1. Simple fracture – one in which the skin

over the fracture site is unbroken
2. Open fracture – one in which a wound
from the exterior contacts the bone at the
point of the fracture.
3. Greenstick fracture – one in which one
side of the bone is broken splintered and
the other side only bent
 Fractures of the Bone

4. Complete fracture – one in which the

bone is broken entirely across.
5. Physeal fracture – one that occurs at the
junction of an epiphysis and diaphysis of a
bone
6. Comminuted fracture – one in which
bone was splintered or crushed, producing
small fragments.
Fractures of the Bone