The Skeletal System

The skeletal system
•The Human Skeleton is a skeletal system composed of

a strong framework of bones that supports the human
body, protects internal structures, and allows for
movement by providing points of attachment for
muscles.
•It also serves lesser known functions, such as a

storing important ions, forming new blood cells, and it
was recently discovered that bone cells release in
important hormone that helps regulate blood sugar
and fat deposition.
The skeletal system
•The human skeletal system is an endoskeleton

(internal) that uniquely designed for upright stance
and bipedal movement.
It consists of both fused and individual bones
supported and supplemented
by ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage.
Cartilage and bone form a supporting skeleton
Bone Tissue
• Compact bone - riddled with canals and
passageways that serve as conduits for nerves, blood
vessels, and lymphatic vessels. The structural unit of
compact bone is called the osteon or
Haversian system
• Osteons appear as tiny weight-bearing pillars
composed of a group of hollow tubes of bone matrix,
one placed inside the next
• Each of the tubes is called a lamella
• Haversian canal - contains small blood vessels and
nerve fibers
•Spongy bone - Consists of trabeculae which
are positioned where the bone is stressed.
Only a few layers thick, the trabeculae
contain irregularly arranged lamellae and
osteocytes interconnected by canaliculi. No
osteons are present.
Types of bones
• Long bones
• Short bones
• Flat bones
• Sesamoid bones
• Irregular bones
Compact Bone
The structure of long bone
Bone remodeling
• Bone remodeling (or bone metabolism) is a lifelong
process where mature bone tissue is removed from
the skeleton (a process called bone resorption) and new
bone tissue is formed (a process
called ossification or new bone formation). These
processes also control the reshaping or replacement of
bone following injuries like fractures but also micro-
damage, which occurs during normal activity.
Remodeling responds also to functional demands of the
mechanical loading.
• An imbalance in the regulation of bone remodeling's two
sub-processes, bone resorption and bone formation,
results in many metabolic bone diseases, such as
osteoporosis.
The skeletal system
Two main divisions – axial and appendicular

skeleton
The axial skeleton located along the central
axis of the body, consists of the skull,
backbone, ribs and sternum
The appendicular skeleton consists of the
bones of the appendages (arms and legs),
the shoulder (or pectoral)girdle
Axial skeleton
• The axial skeleton contains 80 bones.
• These bones are found in the head and trunk of a
persons body.
• The bones are divided into five parts the skull, the
ossicals(in the inner ear), the hyoid bone (in the
throat), the chest (ribs and sternum), and the
vertebral column.
• Ribs are very important to us because they protect
important organs like the heart and lungs, as well as
provide anchors for important muscles.
Axial skeleton
Appendicular skeleton
• The appendicular skeleton contains 126 bones.
• This part of the skeleton helps with motion,
protecting the digesting organs, excretion, and
reproduction.
• The appendicular skeleton is divided into six major
parts, they are the pectoral girdle, the arm, the hand,
the pelvic girdle, the leg, and the foot.
• There are 300 muscles attached to the appendicular
skeleton. Together with the axial skeleton they make
up the human skeleton.
Appendicular skeleton
Functions
1. Support - The skeleton is the frame work of the

human body and helps it maintain its shape. All
the muscles and tissues are able to attach to the
skeleton as a base.
2. Protection - The skeleton protects all the vital
organs in the body. The eyes, brain, middle, and
inner ear are protected by the skull. The lungs,
heart, and major blood vessels are protected by
the rib cage, sternum, and spine. The shoulder is
protected by the clavicle and the scapula. The
digestive system, the excretory system,
reproductive system, and the hip are protects the
ilium and the spine.
Functions
•The knee and elbow are protected by the
patella and the ulna.
•The wrist and ankles are protected by the
carpals and tarsals.
•3 Movement - the skeleton is permitted to
move by the joints between the bones. Some
permit a wide range of movement others are
more restricted. The movement is allowed by
skeletal muscles that attach to the bone in
various places. Muscles, joints, and bones are
what allow the skeletal system to move.
4. Storage - The bones in the skeletal system
can store minerals like calcium and
phosphorus. When the supply of these
minerals runs low the body will get it from
the bones.
5.Blood Cell Formation: hematopoiesis
occurs within the marrow cavities of the
bones.
Cartilage
Cartilage is connective tissue comprised of collagen fibres
embedded in a firm matrix called chondrin
 There are three distinct types of cartilage – hyaline,
elastic and fibrocartilage
All forms of cartilage have cells, the chondroblasts, which
deposit matrix until they are surrounded by the matrix and
are trapped within small spaces called lacunae.
Once this process is complete they are known as
mature chondrocytes
This firm and flexible material offers excellent structural
support whilst also providing a certain amount of
movement. It can be found on the surface of bones at the
joints and other structures including the trachea, bronchi,
larynx, ear and tip of the nose.
Hyaline, elastic and fibrocartilage
• Hyaline cartilage - supportive and flexible cartilage

• Elastic cartilage - type of cartilage containing elastic
fibres that provides flexibility, eg external ear
• Fibrocartilage - type of cartilage made up of many
thick collagen fibres that can withstand slight
compression, eg intervertebral discs
hyaline cartilage
elastic cartilage
fibrocartilage
Hyaline, elastic and fibrocartilage
Joints are junctions between bones
• Hold bones together and many of them permit

flexibility and movement
• Fibrous (or Immovable) Joints. – found between
bones of the skull
• These joints are firmly held together by a thin layer
of strong connectice tissue. There is no
movement between the bones such as the sutures of
the skull and the teeth in their sockets.
•Cartilagenous joints are joints where the articular

surfaces of the bones forming the joints are attached
to each other by means of white fibrocartilaginous
discs and ligaments which allow only a limited degree
of movement.
•Examples are the cartilaginous between the
vertebrae, the cartilage in the symphysis which binds
the pubic bones together at the front of the pelvic
girdle and the cartilage in the joint between the
sacrum and the hip bone.
• Freely movable joints/ Synovial Joints.
• Most of the joints in the body are of the synovial type
• The main characteristics of a synovial joint:
• The ends of the bones are covered with a layer of smooth hyaline
cartilage, called articular cartilage in the joint regions. This reduces
fricton at the point.
• The joint is completely enclosed by a bag-like capsular
ligament which holds the joint together and helps to contain the synovial
fluid.
• The capsular ligament is lined with a synovial membrane. This
membrane secretes synovial fluid into the synovial cavity and acts as
a seal, waterproofing the joint. The synovial fluid lubricates the joint.
• In addition to the capsule, the bones are also attached and held together
by strong, tough ligaments made of dense connective tissue. These
ligaments prevent dislocation during normal movement.
• The articulating surfaces of adjacent bones are reciprocally shaped.
Bone diseases
•Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is an uncommon bone
disease that can affect any bone in the
body. When the long bones (the bones of the
legs and arms) or flat bones (ribs and pelvis) are
affected, the bones weaken, may bow, are often
painful, and will frequently fracture. Affected
bones in the skull often expand, may cause
disfigurement and, again, are often painful. At
present there are no approved medical
therapies. Surgery is sometimes recommended
for severe complication
Osteoporosis
In childhood, bones grow and repair very quickly, but this
process slows as you get older. Bones stop growing in
length between the ages of 16 and 18, but continue to
increase in density until you are in your late 20s. From
about the age of 35, you gradually lose bone density.
This is a normal part of ageing, but for some people it
can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of
fractures.
Other things that increase the risk of developing
osteoporosis include: heavy drinking and smoking, long-
term use of certain medications that affect bone
strength or hormone levels, for example, oral
prednisolone etc.

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The skeletal system

•The Human Skeleton is a skeletal system composed of

•It also serves lesser known functions, such as a

•The human skeletal system is an endoskeleton

Two main divisions – axial and appendicular

1. Support - The skeleton is the frame work of the

• Hyaline cartilage - supportive and flexible cartilage

• Hold bones together and many of them permit

•Cartilagenous joints are joints where the articular

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