Skeletal
System
By kelly hutchison r.n.
The Skeletal System
The Skeletal System is made
of organs called bones.
The adult human has 206
bones.
When you were born, your
skeleton had around 350 bones.
By the time you become an adult
,you will only have 206 bones.
This is because as you grow ,some
of the bones join (fuse) together
to become one bone.
These bones work as a system
to perform the following 5
functions:
Framework
Protection
Levers
Production of blood cells
Storage
Framework
The bones form a framework to
support the body’s muscles, fat,
and skin.
Protection
Bones surround vital organs to
protect them.
Examples include the skull,
which surrounds the brain , and
the ribs ,which protect the heart
and lungs.
Levers
Muscles attach to bones to
help provide movement.
Production of
blood cells
Bones help produce red and
white blood cells and platelets,
a process called hemopoiesis or
hematopoiesis.
Storage
Bones store most of the calcium
supply of the body.
Long Bones
Bones vary in shape and size.
Long bones are bones found in
the extremities (arms and legs).
Photo of a
femur.
Basic parts of long
Bones
•Diaphysis- is the long
shaft.
•Epiphysis- are the
ends
More parts…
Medullary canal-is a cavity in the
diaphysis. It is filled with yellow
marrow (mainly fat cells).
Endosteum- is a membrane that
lines the medullary canal keeps
the yellow marrow intact,and It
produces bone growth.
Red Marrow
Produces red blood cells
(erythrocytes), platelets
(thrombocytes), and white blood
cells (leukocytes).
Found in Vertebrae, Ribs,
Sternum, and Cranium, and in the
proximal ends of the humerous
and femur bones of the body.
Bone marrow is important in
the manufacture of blood cells
and the body’s immune
response, red marrow is used to
diagnose disease and is
sometimes transplanted in
people with a defective immune
system. (Cancer and Leukemia)
Periosteum
•A tough membrane
that covers the outside
of bone.
•Contains blood vessels,
lymph vessels, and
osteoblasts (cells that
form new bone cell
tissue).
Articular cartilage
A thin layer that covers the
epiphysis.
Acts like a shock absorber when
two bones meet form a joint.
The skeletal system is
divided into 2 sections:
*Axial skeleton
*Appendicular Skeleton
Axial Skeleton
• Forms the main trunk of the
body.
Skull
Spinal column
Ribs
Breastbone
Appendicular
Skeleton
Forms extremities
Shoulder girdle
Arm bones
Pelvic girdle
Leg bones
Your 3 pound
(1.4 kg)
brain needs a
home...
your skull!
The Skull
Is Composed of cranial & facial
bones.
Cranium
Surrounds & protects the brain.
It is made up of eight bones:
 One frontal
 Two parietal
 Two temporal
 One occipitial
 One ethmoid
 One sphenoid
The cranium is not solid bone at
birth.
Spaces called Fontanels ,or “soft
spots” are present at birth , and
they allow for enlargement of the
skull as brain growth occurs.
Fontanels are made of membrane
and cartilage and turn into solid
bone by age 18 months.
The Skull has 14 Facial
Bones
 One mandible (lower bone)
 Two maxilla (upper jaw)
 Two zygomatic (cheek)
 Two lacrimal (inner aspect of eyes)
 Five nasal
 Two palatine (roof of mouth-hard
palate)
Facial Bones
Sutures
Are areas where the cranial
bones have joined together
Sinuses
•Are air spaces in the bones of the
skull that act as resonating chambers
for their voice.
•They are lined with
mucus membranes
Foramina
Are openings in bones that
allow nerves and blood vessels
to enter or leave the bone.
 There is a large opening,
called the foramen
magnum, located in the
back of the occipital bone.
This is where the medulla
ends and projects out of
the skull. Smaller holes in
the skull, called foramina,
allow nerves and blood
vessels to enter and leave
the cranium. The picture
on the left shows the base
of the skull.
The places in the skull
where the bones come
together are called
sutures. These sutures are
flexible in young children,
but become fixed as you
age.
Spinal column
Made of 26 bones called
vertebrae.
These bones protect the spinal
cord and provide support for
the head and trunk.
.
Bones of the
Vertebrae include:
•7 cervical (neck)
•12 thoracic(chest)
•5 lumbar(waist)
•1 sacrum (pelvic girdle)
•1 coccyx (tailbone)
Tip for testing
Think of the vertebrae as the meals you
eat daily:
First you eat breakfast @ 7am-this
represents the 7 Cervical vertebrae
Lunch is at 12pm- next there are 12
Thoracic vertebrae
Dinner is @5pm- this represents 5
Lumbar vertebrae.
Two snacks- this represents the Sacrum
and then last Coccyx.
Intervertebral disks (pads
of cartilage tissue) separate
the vertebrae. These disks act
like shock absorbers, permit
twisting and bending
movements of the vertebral
column.
*
12 pair of Ribs
 Ribs (costae)
 Function is to protect the heart &
lungs.
 They attach to the thoracic vertebrae
 The first seven pairs are called true
ribs, they attach directly to the
sternum.
 The last five pair are called false ribs.
False ribs
The first three pairs attach to
cartilage of the rib above.
The last two pairs are called
floating ribs because they have
no attachment on the front of
the body.
Sternum
Known as the breastbone.
The last bone of the axial skeleton.
3 parts:
manubrium (upper region)
gladiolus (body)
xiphoid process (small piece of
cartilage at the bottom)
Clavicle
Known as collarbones.
They attach to the manubrium
part of the sternum by
ligaments.
Scapula
You have two scapulas
Scapulas are also
known as shoulder
bones.
They provide for
attachment to of the
arms to the body.
Humerus
•Each arm has one
humerus .
•This is the upper
part of his arm.
Radius
Each arm has one radius.
This bone is found in the lower
arm on the thumb side.
Ulna
You have one ulna in each arm.
The ulna is the larger bone in
the lower arm.
Bones of the hand
Each hand has :
 Eight carpals- these form the
wrist.
 Five metacarpals- these are
found in the palm of the hand.
Has fourteen Phalanges –these
are the bone that form the
fingers.
Bones of the hand
Bones of the leg
 Each leg has:
 Femur
 Patella
 Tibia
 Fibula
 Tarsals
 Metatarsals
 Phalanges
Femur
The thigh bone
Patella
Kneecap
Fracture of the patella
Tibia
Long
supporting
bone of lower
leg, medial
surface (inside
or toward the
middle)
Fibula
Smaller bone of
lower leg, lateral
surface (outer)
Bones of the foot
 Tarsals: 7 bones of ankles
 Calcaneous is heel bone
 Metatarsals: 5 bones forming
instep of foot
 Phalanges: 14 bones on each
foot, form toes
Joints
Areas where two or more bones join together
 Ligaments: connective tissue bands that
hold long bones together
 Three main types of joints:
 A. Diarthrosis
 B. Amphiarthrosis
 C. Synarthrosis
Diarthrosis
Freely movable joints
 A. Ball-and-socket joints of the shoulder and hip
 B. Hinge joints of the elbow and knee
Amphiarthrosis
Slightly movable
 Example is the attachment of the
ribs to the thoracic vertebrae,
vertebrae, and synthesis pubis.

Synarthrosis
Immovable
 Example is the cranium

Diseases and
abnormal
conditions
Arthritis
 Group of diseases involving an
inflammation of the joints
 Two main types: osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Chronic disease that occurs with
aging
 Symptoms: joint pain, stiffness,
aching, limited range of motion
 Treatment: rest, heat/cold
applications, aspirin, antiinflammatory medications, steroid
injections, special exercises

Rheumatoid arthritis
 Chronic inflammatory disease of connective tissues
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and joints
Three times more common in women
Often begins between ages of 35 and 45
Progressive attacks cause scar tissue formation and
atrophy of bone and muscle tissue, which results in
permanent deformity and immobility
Treatment
Rest and prescribed exercise
Anti-inflammatory medications,aspirin and steroids
Surgery, or arthroplasty, to replace damaged joints
such as hips or knees
www.ppnf.org/catalog/product_info.php?product..
hms.harvard.edu/.../arthritis/arthritis.html
Bursitis
 Inflammation of bursae, small fluid-filled sacs surrounding
joints
 Frequently affects shoulders, elbows, hips, or knees
 Symptoms: severe pain, limited movement, accumulation of
fluid in joint
 Treatment
Pain medications and rest
Injections of steroids and anesthetics into joint
Aspiration (withdrawal of fluid with a needle) of joint
Physical therapy to preserve joint motion
www.learningradiology.com/caseofweek/caseofthe
weekpix2006/cow227arr.jpg
Fractures
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Involve a crack or break in a bone
Types of fractures
Greenstick
Simple
Compound
Impacted
Comminuted
Spiral
Depressed
Colles
Greenstick
Bone is bent and
splits causing a crack
or incomplete break
Common in children
Greenstick fx of the Ulna
Simple
Complete break with
no damage to skin
Simple fx of
the fibula
Simple fx of the
humerus
Compound
Break in bone that ruptures
through skin; increased chance of
infection
Graphic slide
of a
compound
fracture
Ankle x-ray
after repair
Impacted
Broken bone ends jam into each
other
Impacted hip fx
Comminuted
Bone fragments or splinters into
more than two pieces
Fibula fx
Spiral
Severe twisting of a bone causes
one or more breaks; common in
skiing and skating accidents
The line of fracture is a curve
Spiral
Femur fx
Depressed
Broken piece of skull bone moves
inward: common with severe head
injuries
Colles
Breaking and dislocation of the distal
radius that causes a characteristic
bulge at the wrist; caused by falling
on an outstretched hand
Colles fx of wrist
Reduction
 Process by which bone is put back into
proper alignment
 Closed reduction: position bone in
alignment, usually with traction, and
apply cast or splint to maintain position
 Open reduction: surgical repair of
bone, and, at times, insertion of pins,
plates, and other devices
Dislocation
 Bone is forcibly displaced from a
joint
 Frequently occurs in shoulders,
fingers, knees, and hips
 Reduced and immobilized with
splint, cast, or traction
Sprain
 Twisting action tears ligaments at a joint
 Common sites are wrists and ankles
 Symptoms: pain, swelling, discoloration, limited
movement
 Treatment
Rest and elevation
Immobilization with elastic bandage or splint
Cold applications
R.I.C.E.
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
Osteomyelitis
 Inflammation of bone usually caused
by pathogenic organism
 Pathogen causes formation of abscess
within bone and accumulation of pus
in the medullary canal
 Symptoms: pain at site, swelling,
chills, fever
 Treatment is antibiotics for infection
Osteoporosis
 Metabolic disorder with increased porosity or softening of bones
 Etiology
(1) Deficiency of hormones, especially estrogen in females
(2) Prolonged lack of calcium in diet
(3) Sedentary lifestyle
 Loss of calcium and phosphate causes bones to become porous,
brittle, and prone to fracture
 Bone density (x-ray) tests lead to early detection and
preventative treatment
 Treatment
Increased intake of calcium and vitamin D
Exercise
Medications to increase bone mass
Estrogen replacement
Ruptured disk
 Also called a herniated or slipped disk
 Intervertebral disk ruptures or protrudes out of place and
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causes pressure on the spinal nerve
Most common site is lumbar-sacral area; can occur
anywhere on spinal column
Symptoms: severe pain, muscle spasm, impaired
movement, and/or numbness
Treatment
Pain, anti-inflammatory, and muscle relaxant medications
Rest and traction
Physical therapy and massage therapy
Chiropractic treatment
Heat or cold applications
Laminectomy: surgical removal of the protruding disk for
severe cases
Abnormal curvatures of spinal column
 Causes: poor posture, congenital defects,
structural defects of vertebrae, malnutrition,
degeneration of vertebrae
 Treatment:
Therapeutic exercises, firm mattresses, and braces
Surgical repair for severe deformities
 Three types:
Kyphosis
Scoliosis
Lordosis
Kyphosis

“Hunchback" or
rounded bowing of
the back at the
thoracic area
Scoliosis
Side-to-side or lateral curvature of
spine
Lordosis
“Swayback" or
abnormal
inward
curvature of
lumbar vertebrae
THE END