Chapter 5

The Skeletal System

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: bones of the skull, vertebral column,
and rib cage
•  Appendicular skeleton: bones of the upper and lower
limbs, shoulder and hip
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 adult skeleton has 206 bones

•  Two basic types of bone tissue
• Compact bone
• Homogeneous
• Spongy bone
• Small needle-like
pieces of bone
• Many open spaces
Classification of Bones on the
Basis of Shape

Figure 5.1
Classification of Bones
•  1. Long bones
• Typically longer than wide
• Have a shaft with heads at both ends
• Contain mostly compact bone
•  Examples: Femur, humerus
Classification of Bones

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

•  3. 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

•  4. Irregular bones
• Irregular shape
• Do not fit into other bone classification
categories
• Example: Vertebrae and hip
Gross Anatomy of a Long Bone

•  Diaphysis
• Shaft (middle)
• Composed of
compact bone
•  Epiphysis
• Ends of the bone
• Composed mostly of
spongy bone Figure 5.2a
Structures of a Long Bone
•  1. Periosteum
• Outside covering of
the diaphysis
• Fibrous connective
tissue membrane
•  2. Sharpey’s fibers
• Secure periosteum to
underlying bone
•  3. Arteries
• Supply bone cells Figure 5.2c
with nutrients
Structures of a Long Bone

•  4. Articular cartilage
• Covers the external
surface of the
epiphyses
• Made of hyaline
cartilage
• Decreases friction at
joint surfaces Figure 5.2a
Structures of a Long Bone

•  5. Medullary cavity
• Cavity of the shaft
• Contains yellow
marrow (mostly fat)
in adults
• Contains red marrow
(for blood cell
formation) in infants Figure 5.2a
Bone Markings
•  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
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 Growth

•  Bones are remodeled and lengthened

until growth stops
• Bones change shape somewhat
• Bones grow in width
Long Bone Formation and Growth

Figure 5.4a
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 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

Table 5.2
Repair of Bone Fractures
•  Hematoma (blood-filled swelling) is
formed
•  Break is splinted by fibrocartilage to
form a callus
•  Fibrocartilage callus is replaced by a
bony callus
•  Bony callus is remodeled to form a
permanent patch
Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture

Figure 5.5
The Axial Skeleton
•  Divided into
three parts
• Skull
• Vertebral column
• Bony thorax
The Skull

•  Two sets of bones

• Cranium
• Facial bones
•  Bones are joined by sutures
•  Only the mandible is attached by a
freely movable joint
The Skull

Figure 5.7
Bones of the Skull

Figure 5.11
Human Skull, Superior View

Figure 5.8
Human Skull, Inferior View

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

Figure 5.10
Paranasal Sinuses
•  Functions of paranasal sinuses
• Lighten the skull
• Give resonance and amplification to voice

Figure 5.10
The Hyoid Bone
•  The only bone that
does not articulate
(move) with
another bone

•  Serves as a
moveable base for
the tongue

Figure 5.12
The Fetal Skull

•  The fetal skull is

large compared
to the infants
total body length

Figure 5.13
The Fetal Skull
•  Fontanelles –
fibrous membranes
connecting the
cranial bones
• Allow the brain
to grow
• Convert to bone
within 24 months
after birth
Figure 5.13
The Vertebral Column
•  Vertebrae
separated by
intervertebral discs
•  The spine has a
normal curvature
•  Each vertebrae is
given a name
according to its
location Figure 5.14
The Bony Thorax
•  Forms a
cage to
protect
major
organs

Figure 5.19a
The Bony Thorax
•  Made-up of
three parts
• Sternum
• Ribs
• Thoracic
vertebrae

Figure 5.19a
The Appendicular Skeleton

•  Limbs (appendages)
•  Pectoral girdle
•  Pelvic girdle
The Appendicular Skeleton

Figure 5.6c
The Pectoral (Shoulder) Girdle

•  Composed of two bones

• Clavicle – collarbone
• Scapula – shoulder blade
•  These bones allow the upper limb to
have exceptionally free movement
Bones of the Shoulder Girdle

Figure 5.20a, b
Bones of the Upper Limb

•  The arm is
formed by a
single bone
• Humerus

Figure 5.21a, b
Bones of the Upper Limb

•  The forearm
has two bones
•  Ulna
•  Radius

Figure 5.21c
Bones of the Upper Limb

•  The hand
• Carpals – wrist
• Metacarpals –
palm
• Phalanges –
fingers
Figure 5.22
Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
•  Hip bones
•  Composed of three pair of fused bones
• Ilium
• Ischium
• 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
The Pelvis

Figure 5.23a
Gender Differences of the Pelvis

Figure 5.23c
Bones of the Lower Limbs

•  The thigh has

one bone
• Femur – thigh
bone

Figure 5.35a, b
Bones of the Lower Limbs

•  The leg has

two bones
• Tibia
• Fibula

Figure 5.35c
Bones of the Lower Limbs

•  The foot
• Talus – ankle
• Metatarsals –
• Phalanges – toes

Figure 5.25
Joints
•  Articulations of bones
•  Functions of joints
• Hold bones together
• Allow for mobility
•  Ways joints are classified
• Functionally
• Structurally
Functional Classification of Joints
•  Synarthroses –
immovable joints
•  Amphiarthroses –
slightly moveable joints
•  Diarthroses – freely
moveable joints
Structural Classification of Joints

•  Fibrous joints
• Generally immovable
•  Cartilaginous joints
• Immovable or slightly moveable
•  Synovial joints
• Freely moveable
Fibrous Joints
•  Bones united by fibrous tissue –
synarthrosis or largely immovable.

Figure 5.27d, e
Cartilaginous Joints – mostly
amphiarthrosis
•  Bones connected by cartilage
•  Examples
• Pubic
symphysis
• Intervertebral
joints

Figure 5.27b, c
Synovial Joints

•  Articulating
bones are
separated by a
joint cavity
•  Synovial fluid
is found in the
joint cavity
Figure 5.27f–h
Features of Synovial Joints-
Diarthroses
•  Articular cartilage (hyaline cartilage)
covers the ends of bones
•  Joint surfaces are enclosed by a fibrous
articular capsule
•  Have a joint cavity filled with synovial
fluid
•  Ligaments reinforce the joint
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

Figure 5.28
Types of Synovial Joints Based on
Shape

Figure 5.29a–c
Types of Synovial Joints Based on
Shape

Figure 5.29d–f
Inflammatory Conditions
Associated with Joints
•  Bursitis – inflammation of a bursa usually
caused by a blow or friction
•  Tendonitis – inflammation of tendon sheaths
•  Arthritis – inflammatory or degenerative
diseases of joints
• Over 100 different types
• The most widespread crippling disease in the
United States
Clinical Forms of Arthritis
•  Osteoarthritis
• Most common chronic arthritis
• Probably related to normal aging processes
•  Rheumatoid arthritis
• An autoimmune disease – the immune system
attacks the joints
• Symptoms begin with bilateral inflammation of
certain joints
• Often leads to deformities