CHAPTER 5
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM XATLEI U. QUIBUAN | BSMLS - 1A
Parts of the skeletal system • Do not fit into other bone classification
categories
• Bones (skeleton) Example: Vertebrae and hip
• Joints
• Cartilages Gross Anatomy of a Long Bone
• Ligaments
Diaphysis
Two divisions: • Shaft - length
• Axial skeleton • Composed of compact bone
• Appendicular skeleton
Epiphysis
• Ends of the bone
Function of Bones
• Composed mostly of spongy bone
• Support of the body
• Protection of soft organs Structures of a Long Bone
• Movement due to attached skeletal muscles
• Periosteum
• Storage of minerals (Ca and P) and fats
➢ Outside covering of the diaphysis
• Blood cell formation – hematopoiesis ➢ Fibrous connective tissue membrane
Bones of the Human Body • Sharpey’s fibers
• The adult skeleton has 206 bones ➢ Secure periosteum to underlying bone
• Two basic types of osseous - bone tissue
• Arteries
➢ Compact bone - dense and homogeneous ➢ Supply bone cells with nutrients
➢ Spongy bone - small needle-like pieces of • Articular cartilage
bone. Have many open spaces ➢ Covers the external surface of the epiphyses
➢ Made of hyaline cartilage
Classification of Bones ➢ Decreases friction at joint surfaces
Bones are classified according to shape into four
groups: • Medullary cavity
Long bones ➢ Cavity of the shaft
• Typically longer than wide ➢ Contains yellow marrow (mostly fat) in adults
• Have a shaft with heads at both ends ➢ Contains red marrow (for blood cell formation)
in infants
• Contain mostly compact bone
Examples: Femur, humerus
Short bones
• Generally cube-shape
• Contain mostly spongy bone
Examples: Carpals, tarsals
• Sesamoid bones – form within tendons
Examples: patella or kneecap
Flat bones
• Thin and flattened
• Usually curved
• Thin layers of compact bone around a layer of
spongy bone
Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum
Irregular bones
• Irregular shape
CHAPTER 5
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM XATLEI U. QUIBUAN | BSMLS - 1A
Bone Markings Bone Growth
• Surface features of bones • Epiphyseal plates allow for growth of long bone
• Sites of attachments for muscles, tendons, and during childhood
ligaments
• Passages for nerves and blood vessels ➢ New cartilage is continuously formed
• Categories of bone markings ➢ Older cartilage becomes ossified
• Projections or processes – grow out from the bone ➢ Cartilage is broken down
surface ➢ Bone replaces cartilage
• Depressions or cavities – indentations ➢ Process of bone formation – ossification done
by bone-forming cells called osteoblasts
Microscopic Anatomy of Bone
• Bones are remodeled and lengthened until growth
• Osteon (Haversian System)
stops
➢ A unit of bone
➢ Bones change shape somewhat
➢ Bones grow in width – appositional growth
• Central (Haversian) canal ➢ Growth due to growth hormones and sex
➢ Opening in the center of an osteon hormones
➢ Carries blood vessels and nerves
• Bones are remodeled continually in response to:
• Perforating (Volkman’s) canal
➢ Canal perpendicular to the central canal ➢ Calcium levels in blood and pull of gravity and
➢ Carries blood vessels and nerves muscles on the bones
Types of Bone Cells
• Osteocytes
Mature bone cells
• Osteoblasts
➢ Bone-forming cells
• Osteoclasts
➢ Bone-destroying cells
Bone remodeling is a process by both osteoblasts and
• Lacunae osteoclasts
➢ Cavities containing bone cells (osteocytes)
➢ Arranged in concentric rings Bone Fractures
• A break in bone
• Canaculi
➢ Tiny canals Types of Bone Fractures
➢ Radiate from the central canal to lacunae
• Closed (simple) fracture – break that does not
➢ Form a transport system
penetrate the skin
Changes in the Human Skeleton
• Open (compound) fracture – broken bone
• In embryos, the skeleton is primarily hyaline cartilage penetrates through the skin
• During development, much of this cartilage is
replaced by bone Bone fractures are treated by reduction and
• Cartilage remains in isolated areas: immobilization
➢ Bridge of the nose • Realignment of the bone – either by
➢ Parts of ribs physician’s hands or surgery
➢ Joints
CHAPTER 5
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM XATLEI U. QUIBUAN | BSMLS - 1A
Common Types of Bone Fractures
Paranasal Sinuses
• Hollow portions of bones surrounding the nasal
cavity
Repair of Bone Fractures Functions of Paranasal Sinuses
• Lighten the skull
• Hematoma (blood-filled swelling) is formed due to
• Give resonance and amplification to voice
broken blood vessels
• Break is splinted by fibrocartilage to form a callus
– cartilage matrix, bony matrix, collagen fibers –
capillaries also form again
• Fibrocartilage callus is replaced by a bony callus
made of spongy bone
• Bony callus is remodeled to form a permanent
patch
Stages in the Healing of a Bone Fracture
The Hyoid Bone
• The only bone that does not articulate with another
bone
• Serves as a moveable base for the tongue and as an
attachment point for neck muscles that raise and
lower the larynx when we swallow and speak
The Axial Skeleton
The Fetal Skull
• The infant’s face is very small compared to the size
The Axial Skeleton of the cranium
• The fetal skull is large compared to the infants total
• Forms the longitudinal part of the body body length
• Divided into three parts: • Skull is unfinished at birth
➢ Skull
➢ Vertebral column Fontanelles – fibrous membranes connecting the
➢ Bony thorax cranial bones
• Soft spots
The Skull • Allow the brain to grow and for easier delivery
• Convert to bone within 24 months after birth
• Two sets of bones:
➢ Cranium
➢ Facial bones
• Bones are joined by sutures – interlocking,
immovable joints
• Only the mandible is attached by a freely
movable joint
CHAPTER 5
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM XATLEI U. QUIBUAN | BSMLS - 1A
The Vertebral Column – Spine The Pectoral (Shoulder) Girdle
• Vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs • Composed of two bones
• The spine has a normal curvature ➢ Clavicle – collarbone and Scapula – shoulder
• Each vertebrae is given a name according to its blade
location • These bones allow the upper limb to have
• Before birth 33 : then 9 fuse exceptionally free movement due to:
➢ Each shoulder girdle attaches to the axial
skeleton at only one point
➢ Loose attachment of the scapula allows it to
slide back and forth against the thorax as
muscles act
➢ The glenoid cavity is shallow, and the shoulder
joint is poorly reinforces by ligaments
Bones of the Upper Limb
• The arm is formed by a single bone:
➢ Humerus
• The forearm has two bones:
➢ Ulna
➢ Radius
• The hand
➢ Carpals – wrist
➢ Metacarpals – palm
➢ Phalanges – fingers
The Bony Thorax
Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
• Forms a cage to protect major organs
• Hip bones
• Made-up of three parts:
• Composed of three pair of fused bones
➢ Sternum
➢ Ilium
➢ Ribs
➢ Ischium
➢ Thoracic vertebrae
➢ Pubic bone
• The total weight of the upper body rests on the pelvis
• Protects several organs:
➢ Reproductive organs
➢ Urinary bladder
➢ Part of the large intestine
Bones of the Lower Limbs
• The thigh has one bone:
➢ Femur – thigh bone
• The heaviest and strongest bone in the body
The Appendicular Skeleton • The leg has two bones:
➢ Tibia
• 126 bones of the:
➢ Fibula
➢ Limbs (appendages)
➢ Pectoral girdle • The foot
➢ Pelvic girdle ➢ Tarsus – ankle
➢ Metatarsals – sole
➢ Phalanges – toe
CHAPTER 5
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM XATLEI U. QUIBUAN | BSMLS - 1A
Arches of the Foot Features of Synovial Joints
• Bones of the foot are arranged to form three strong • Articular cartilage (hyaline cartilage) covers the
arches ends of bones
➢ Two longitudinal • Joint surfaces are enclosed by a fibrous articular
➢ One transverse capsule
• Have a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid
Joints • Ligaments reinforce the joint
• Articulations of bones
Structures Associated with the SYNOVIAL Joint
Functions of Joints • Bursae – flattened fibrous sacs
➢ Hold bones together ➢ Lined with synovial membranes
➢ Allow for mobility ➢ Filled with synovial fluid
Ways Joints are classified: ➢ Not actually part of the joint and common where
ligaments, muscles, skin, tendons, or bones rub
➢ Functionally together
➢ Structurally
• Tendon sheath
Functional Classification of Joints ➢ Elongated bursa that wraps around a tendon
• Synarthroses – immovable joints Inflammatory Conditions Associated with Joints
• Amphiarthroses – slightly moveable joints • Bursitis – inflammation of a bursa usually caused by
• Diarthroses – freely moveable joints a blow or friction to the knee
• Tendonitis – inflammation of tendon sheaths -
Structural Classification of Joints sprain
• Arthritis – inflammatory or degenerative diseases of
• Fibrous joints joints
➢ Generally immovable ➢ Over 100 different types
• Cartilaginous joints ➢ The most widespread crippling disease in the
➢ Immovable or slightly moveable United States
• Synovial joints
➢ Freely moveable Clinical Forms of Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis – wear-and-tear arthritis
Fibrous Joints
➢ Most common chronic arthritis
• Bones united by fibrous tissue ➢ Probably related to normal aging processes
• Examples:
✓ Sutures in skull • Rheumatoid arthritis
✓ Syndesmoses ➢ An autoimmune disease – the immune system
attacks the joints
• Allows more movement than sutures
because fibers are longer ➢ Symptoms begin with bilateral inflammation of
certain joints
Example: distal end of tibia and fibula
➢ Often leads to deformities
Cartilaginous Joints • Gouty Arthritis - Gout
• Bones connected by cartilage ➢ Inflammation of joints is caused by an
• Examples: accumulation in blood and deposition of urate
crystals (uric acid) from the blood
➢ Pubic symphysis – pelvis
➢ Intervertebral joints – spinal column ➢ Usually affects only one joint
➢ Can usually be controlled with die
Synovial Joints
• Articulating bones are separated by a joint cavity
• Synovial fluid is found in the joint cavity
