The Skeletal

System:
Structure, Function,
and Diseases
of the bones and joints
The Skeletal System
• Parts of the skeletal system
• Bones (skeleton)
• Joints
• Cartilages
• Ligaments (bone to bone)(tendon=bone to
muscle)
• Divided into two divisions
• Axial skeleton
• Appendicular skeleton – limbs and girdle
Functions of Bones

• Support of the body

• Protection of soft organs
• Movement due to attached skeletal
muscles
• Storage of minerals and fats
• 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
• Many open spaces
Microscopic Anatomy of Bone
Bones are classified
by their shape:
• long
• short
• flat
• irregular
Classification of Bones on the
Basis of Shape
Classification of Bones

• Long bones
• Typically longer than wide
• Have a shaft with heads at both ends
• Contain mostly compact bone
• Examples: Femur, humerus
Gross Anatomy of a Long Bone

• Diaphysis
• Shaft
• Composed of
compact bone
• Epiphysis
• Ends of the bone
• Composed mostly of
spongy bone
Structures of a Long Bone
• Periosteum
• Outside covering of
the diaphysis
• Fibrous connective
tissue membrane
• Sharpey’s fibers
• Secure periosteum to
underlying bone
• Arteries
• Supply bone cells
with nutrients
Classification of Bones

• Short bones
• Generally cube-shape
• Contain mostly spongy bone
• Examples: Carpals, tarsals
Classification of Bones

• Flat bones
• Thin and flattened
• Usually curved
• Thin layers of compact bone around a layer
of spongy bone
• Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum
Classification of Bones

• Irregular bones
• Irregular shape
• Do not fit into other bone classification
categories
• Example: Vertebrae and hip
• Surface features of bones
• Sites of attachments for muscles, tendons,
and ligaments
• Passages for nerves and blood vessels
• Categories of bone markings
• 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 cells
• Break down bone matrix for remodeling and
release of calcium
• Bone remodeling is a process by both
osteoblasts and osteoclasts
Changes in the Human Skeleton
• In embryos, the skeleton is primarily hyaline
cartilage
• During development, much of this cartilage
is replaced by bone
• Cartilage remains in isolated areas
• Bridge of the nose
• Parts of ribs
• Joints
Bone Growth

• Epiphyseal plates allow for growth of long

bone during childhood
• New cartilage is continuously formed
• Older cartilage becomes ossified
• Cartilage is broken down
• Bone replaces cartilage
Bone Fractures
• A break in a bone
• Types of bone fractures
• Closed (simple) fracture – break that does not
penetrate the skin
• Open (compound) fracture – broken bone
penetrates through the skin
• Bone fractures are treated by reduction
and immobilization
• Realignment of the bone
Common Types of Fractures
Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture
Axial skeleton supports and protects organs of
head, neck and trunk
Axial skeleton:
skull (cranium and facial bones)
hyoid bone (anchors tongue and muscles
associated with swallowing)
vertebral column (vertebrae and disks)
bony thorax (ribs and sternum)
Appendicular skeleton includes bones of limbs
and
bones that anchor them to the axial
skeleton
Appendicular skeleton:
pectoral girdle (clavicles and scapulae)
upper limbs (arms)
pelvic girdle (sacrum, coccyx)
lower limbs (legs)
22 bones in skull
6 in middle ears
1 hyoid bone
26 in vertebral column
25 in thoracic cage

4 in pectoral girdle
60 in upper limbs
60 in lower limbs
2 in pelvic girdle

206 bones in all

The Axial Skeleton

• Forms the longitudinal part of the body

• Divided into three parts
• Skull
• Vertebral column
• Bony thorax
The Axial Skeleton
The skull

8 sutured bones in cranium

Facial bones: 13 sutured bones, 1 mandible

Cranium
encases brain
attachments for muscles
sinuses
Bones of the Skull
Allows for
growth
Human Skull, Superior View
Human Skull, Inferior View

Figure 5.9
Paranasal Sinuses
• Hollow portions of bones surrounding
the nasal cavity
The Hyoid Bone

• The only bone that

does not articulate
with another bone

• Serves as a
moveable base for
the tongue
The Vertebral Column
• Vertebrae
separated by
intervertebral discs
• The spine has a
normal curvature
• Each vertebrae is
given a name
according to its
location
Vertebral column

7 cervial vertebrae
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
1 sacrum (5 fused
1 coccyx (4 fused)

Vertebrae vary in size and morphology

Structure of a Typical Vertebrae
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
 Joints
• Fibrous-Fibrous joints connect bones without
allowing any movement. The bones of your
skull and pelvis are held together by fibrous
joints.
• Cartilaginous-Cartilaginous joints are joints
in which the bones are attached by cartilage.
These joints allow for only a little movement,
such as in the spine or ribs.
• Synovial-Synovial joints allow for much more
movement than cartilaginous joints. Cavities
between bones in synovial joints are filled
with synovial fluid. This fluid helps lubricate
and protect the bones. Bursa sacks contain
the synovial fluid. within fixed limits
• A joint, or articulation, is the
place where two bones come
together.

• There are three types of joints

classified by the amount of
movement they allow:
 Immovable
 slightly movable
 freely movable
 Types of Joints
Hinge- A hinge joint allows extension and
retraction of an appendage. (Elbow,
Knee)
Ball and Socket- A ball and socket joint
allows for radial 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)
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
Types of Synovial Joints Based on
Shape
Diseases and
Conditions
of the Skeletal
System
Arthritis
 Bursitis
• Inflammation of the Bursa sac
• can become inflamed from injury or
infection
• localized pain or swelling
 Tendonitis
• inflammation of the tendon.
• movement becomes painful.
• most common cause of tendonitis is
overuse.
 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• swelling or change in position of the
tissue within the carpal tunnel
squeezes and irritates the median
nerve.
• causes tingling and numbness of the
thumb, index, and the middle fingers
 Osteoporosis
• means "porous bones."
• bones have lost minerals (especially
calcium) making them weak, brittle,
and susceptible to fractures
• most common places where
fractures occur are the back, hips,
and wrists.
 Scoliosis
• abnormal curvature of the spine.
• one or more abnormal
• More girls than boys have severe
scoliosis.
 Kyphosis
• spine may develop a hump.
• can occur as a result of
developmental problems or
degenerative diseases
 Lordosis
• A curvature of the vertebrae in the
lower back area, giving a
"swayback" appearance.
 Rickets
• softening and weakening of bones in
children
• usually because of an extreme and
prolonged vitamin D deficiency.
 Gout
• results from an overload of uric acid in
the body.
• leads to the formation of urate crystals
that deposit in the joints.
• crystals in the joints causes recurring
attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis).
• Chronic gout may cause joint destruction,
decreased kidney function, and kidney
stones.
 Acromegaly
• occurs when the body produces too
much of the hormones that control
growth.
• tissues grow larger than normal.
• excessive growth can cause serious
disease and even premature death.
 Spina Bifida
• birth defect that involves the
incomplete development of the
spinal cord or its coverings.
• spina bifida literally means "split" or
"open" spine.
• The condition usually is detected
before a baby is born and treated
right away.
 Talipes Equinovarus-
“Clubfoot”
• deformity of the whole foot that is present
at birth.
• the child is born with the foot pointing
down and twisted inwards at the ankle.
 Sarcoma
• Osteosarcoma
• most common type of bone cancer.
most commonly found in children
and adolescents
 Myeloma
• cancer in which abnormal cells
collect in the bone marrow and form
tumors
 Leukemia
• cancer of the blood cells
• starts in the bone marrow where
blood cells are
• the bone marrow starts to make a lot
of abnormal white blood cells, called
leukemia cells.
• leukemia cells don't do the work of
normal WBC’s and they don't stop
growing when they should.
Bone Marrow Biopsy