The Structure of the skeleton
• Skeleton
Bones
Skeletal System
• Bones (solid, hard and resistant),
cartilages and connective tissue
make up the skeletal system.
• The skeleton of an adult human
being has approximately 206 bones
Function of the Skeleton
• The skeletal system in the body
provides the shape, supports
and protects organs and the soft
areas of the body. Its others
functions are bodily movement,
producing blood for the body,
and storing minerals (calcium
and phosphorous) that the
physical structure needs.
Shape and Support
• The skeleton is made up of various bones
and provides the framework for the body.
Thus, the skeleton provides the basic shape
and structure for the body.
• The bones are like the structural members of
a building, and all of the organs, muscles and
skin are incorporated with the bones, just like
the furnishings, rooms, walls, and finishing of
a building.
Support
• There are 206 bones in the body and
these bones and cartilages help
provide the support and points of
attachment to many soft tissues,
muscles and ligaments in the body. It
helps supporting the weight of
muscles and internal organs, without
which the body would collapse.
Protection
The skeleton protects organs in
the body. Bones can cover
and protect many of the major
organs.
• cranium: protects the brain
• ribs/sternum: protects the lungs,
heart and digestive organs
• pelvis: protects and supports the
digestive and reproductive organs
• spinal column: protects the major
nervous branching into the entire
system
• mandible, maxilla and teeth protect
the tongue and buccal cavity.
Production Of Red Blood Cell
• The red blood cells as well as the white blood
cells are produced in the red marrow of the
bones. After birth and in early childhood, the
red blood morrow is red in color. Then, in
adulthood, half of the bone marrow turns
yellow, as it consists of fat cells.
• The long bones consist of yellow marrow and
the red marrow is found in the flat bones of hip,
skull and shoulder blades. You may also find
red marrow in the vertebrae and the end of the
long bone. In extreme conditions, the body can
convert some of the yellow bone marrow to red
bone marrow.
Bones
• Compact bone:
osseous tissue has no
open spaces. It is
dense and hard.
• Spongy bone: has
many open spaces. It
provides support and
strength to the bone.
TYPES OF BONES
The bones can classify into:
• Long bones
• Short bones
• Flat Bones
• Irregular Bones
• Sesamoid Bones
• Sutural Bones
Types Of Bone
• Long Bone -The long bones are those that are longer
than they are wide. Long bones, especially
the femur and tibia, are subjected to most of the load
during daily activities and they are crucial for skeletal
mobility.
• Short Bone - Short bones are designated as those
bones that are as wide as they are long. Their primary
function is to provide support and stability with little to
no movement.
• Flat Bone - Flat bones are bones whose principal
requirement is either extensive protection or the
provision of broad surfaces for muscular attachment.
Types of Bone
• Irregular Bone -The irregular bones are bones which,
from their peculiar form, cannot be grouped as long
bone, short bone, flat bone or sesamoid bone. Irregular
bones serve various purposes in the body, such as
protection of nervous tissue (such as the vertebrae that
protect the spinal cord.)
• Sesamoid Bone - Sesamoids are found in locations
where a tendon passes over a joint, such as the hand,
knee, and foot. Functionally, they act to protect the
tendon and to increase its mechanical effect.
• Sutural Bone - are extra bone pieces that occur within
a suture in the cranium. These are irregular isolated
bones which appear in addition to the usual centers
of ossification of the cranium.
Resources
• http://www.ivyrose.co.uk/HumanBody/Skeletal/Skeletal_System.php
• http://www.deltasearch.com/?q=the+skeletal+system+the+structure+of+bones&babs
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