Function of skeletal system of trunk

and head.
Functions of bones (skeleton)

Support and protection

Blood cell formation

Mineral storage (calcium especially)

Site for muscle attachmentbody movement

 Axial skeleton
skull (cranium and facial bones)
hyoid bone (anchors tongue and muscles
associated with swallowing)
vertebral column (vertebrae and disks)
thoracic cage (ribs and sternum)

 Axial skeleton supports and protects organs of head, neck and trunk

 Appendicular skeleton
pectoral girdle (clavicles and scapulae)
upper limbs (arms)
pelvic girdle (coxal bones, sacrum, coccyx)
lower limbs (legs)
The skull(head)

8 sutured bones in cranium

Facial bones: 13 sutured bones, 1 mandible

Cranium
- encases brain
- attachments for muscles
- sinuses
 The Hyoid Bone

· The only bone that

does not articulate
with another bone

· Serves as a
moveable base for
the tongue, and
other muscle
attachments
Figure 5.12
Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Slide 5.26
 Vertebral column

The major functions of the vertebral column are:

1) protection of the spinal cord
2) providing stiffening for the body and attachment for the pectoral
and pelvic girdle and many other muscles.
3) providing motion for the human skeleton
4) transmitting body weight in walking and standing.
Thoracic cage
 ribs
 thoracic vertebrae
 sternum
 costal cartilages

True ribs are directly attached to the sternum

(first seven pairs)
Three false ribs are joined to the 7th rib
Two pairs of floating ribs
What is the function of the thoracic cage?
 Its primary function is protection of the thoracic
viscera, the heart and lungs.
Its secondary function is to assist with breathing by
being moved up (inhalation) and down in
(exhalation).