The Skeletal System

Special Vocabulary

Cartilage: Strong flexible connective tissue

Ossification: The process of bone being formed, renewed, and repaired

Ligament: A band of fibrous, slightly elastic connective tissue that attaches one bone to another

Special Vocabulary Continued

Tendon: A fibrous cord that attaches muscle to the bone

Scoliosis: Lateral or side-to-side curvature of the spine

Osteoporosis: A condition in which there is a progressive loss of bone tissue

Bones in the Body

There are 206 bones in the adult human body.

The overall job of the skeletal system is to provide structural support for the body and protects the innards.

Range between .25 cm (the ear bone) to the length of the femur.

Bones

Classified into four categories: Flat, Long, Short, and Irregular

They are hard on the outside and soft and spongy on the inside.

Cranium Mandible The “skull” Includes:

Ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal bones.

It is used to protect the brain.

The “jaw bone” The lower jaw

and holds the lower teeth in place.

Clavicle Sternum The “collar

bone”. It serves as a

rigid support from which the scapula (“shoulder blade”) and free limb (“arm”) are suspended.

The “breastbone”

It connects to the rib bones and helps to protect the lungs, heart and major blood vessels from physical trauma.

Rib Vertebra Ribs surround the

chest, enabling the lungs to expand and enable breathing by expanding the chest cavity.

They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax.

Men and women have 12 pairs of ribs, 24 in total.

Encases and protects the spinal cord.

Ribs

Vertebra

Humerus Radius and Ulna The “upper arm” It connects the

scapula to the lower arm.

The radius is the bone of the forearm that extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist.

The ulna is placed at the medial side of the forearm closest to the body, parallel with the radius on both arms.

Carpals Metacarpals The sole cluster

of bones in the wrist between the radius and ulna and the metacarpus.

The intermediate part of the hand skeleton that is located between the phalanges and the carpus.

Phalanges

The “fingers” and “toes” Distal: Are at the tips of the fingers and

toes. Proximal: Are closest to the hand (or foot)

and articulate with the metacarpals of the hand, or metatarsals of the foot.

Middle or intermediate: Are between the distal and proximal. The thumb and big toe do not have middle phalanges.

Phalanges Cont.

Pelvis

The “hip bone” The pelvis is the section between the

legs and the torso that connects the spine to the thigh bones.

Female Male

Femur Patella

The “thigh bone”

Proximal (closest to the body) bone of the leg.

The longest and largest bone.

One of the two strongest bones in the body also.

It forms part of the hip joint and part of the knee joint.

The “knee cap” Circular-

triangular bone which articulates with the femur and covers and protects the knee joint.

The primary functional role of the patella is knee extension.

Femur Patella

Tibia Fibula

The “shinbone” The larger and

stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee.

Connects the knee with the ankle bones.

The “calf bone” Located on the

lateral side of the tibia, with which it is connected above and below.

Tibia Fibula

Tarsals Metatarsals A cluster of

bones in each foot between the lower end of tibia and fibula of the lower leg and the metatarsus.

A group of five long bones located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes.

Skeletal Problems

Injuries and disorders harm the skeletal system.

Poor nutrition, infections, sports injuries, and poor posture leads to skeletal problems.

Degenerative disorders also cause problems.

Fractures

A fracture is any type of break in a bone.

Simple Fracture Compound Fracture Broken bone

does not break through the skin.

Broken end of the bone breaks through the skin.

Hairline Fracture Transverse Fracture

Parts of the bone do not separate.

When the fracture is completely across the bone.

Comminuted Fracture

When the bone shatters into more than two pieces.

Connective Tissue

There are three types of connective tissue Cartilage, Ligaments, and Tendons

Acts as a flexible structure for soft parts

All bones start out as cartilage

Joints

Are points where the bones meet Some joints do not move While other joints do move Injuries to joints can occur from overuse, strain, or disease.

Hinge joint

Pivot Joint Ball and socket joint

Saddle joint

Condyloid joint

Gliding joint

Dislocation Torn Cartilage

Cause: When a bone slips out of place, tearing the ligaments.

Solution: Doctor can relocate it and immobilize it.

Cause: A sharp blow to a joint or a severe twisting of a joint.

Solution: Arthroscopic surgery can remove damaged cartilage.

Bursitis Bunions

Cause: Painful inflammation of burse, a fluid-filled sac that helps reduce friction.

Solution: Rest and protect the area, apply an icepack, or take anti-inflammatory medicine

Cause: Swellings of the bursae in the first joint of the big toes.

Solution: Resting the foot.

Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement.

Cause: Inflammation of a joint, from an injury, natural wear and tear, or autoimmune disease.

Solution: Treatment depends on which particular form is present, its location, severity, persistence, and any underlying background medical conditions patient may have.

More than 100 different types. Most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis Cont.

Repetitive Motion Injury

Prolonged, repeated movements can damage tissue.

Working on the computer can cause injury.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by repetitive motion injury.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Occurs when ligaments and tendons in the wrist swell.

Causes numbness, a tingling sensation in the thumb and forefinger, pain, and weakness in the hand.

Osteoporosis

Occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both.

There are several different treatments for osteoporosis, including lifestyle changes and a variety of medications.

Osteoporosis Cont.

Avoiding excess alcohol, smoking and regular exercise reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Caring for the Skeletal System

A healthy diet, exercise, protective gear (when playing and practicing sports), and regular checkups are ways to care for it.

Your overall health depends on the state of your skeletal system.

Foods high in Calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus are good for your body.

Fun Facts Both Humans and giraffes have the same

amount of bones on their necks, just that the giraffes have a much longer vertebra.

Our bones are six times stronger than steel if both are of the same weight.

We have over 230 moveable and semi-movable joints in our body.

After death, cartilage rots faster than bone. This is why the skulls of skeletons have no noses or ears.

Every 1 in 50 people have an extra rib in their body.

Humans are born with 300-350 bones.

Questions

1. How many bones make up the skeletal system when someone is born? As an adult?

2. What are the four classifications of a bone?

3. How many ribs are there usually in an adult?

4. The Phalanges are the _______ and ____.

5. What is the longest bone in the human body?

Questions Cont.

6. What is a comminuted fracture?7. What is a compound fracture?8. The three types of connective

tissue are: _________, _________, and _______.

9. What is Arthritis?10. What is the overall job of the

skeletal system?

Answers

1. Birth: 300-350 Adult: 2062. Flat, long, short, and irregular.3. 12 pairs or 24 ribs.4. Fingers and toes.5. The femur.6. When the bone shatters into more

than two pieces.

Answers Cont.

7. When the broken end of the bone breaks through the skin.

8. Cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.9. Arthritis is inflammation of one or

more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement.

10. The overall job of the skeletal system is to provide structural support for the body and protects the innards.