Skeletal System

The skeletal system is the body’s support

structure. It gives the body its shape,
allows movement, makes blood cells,
provides protection for the organs and
stores minerals. The skeletal system is
also called the musculoskeletal system.

ContentsOverviewFunctionAnatomyCon
ditions and DisordersCare

Care

Overview
What is the skeletal system?
The skeletal system gives the body its
shape and holds the organs in place. In
the simplest terms, the skeletal system is
the body’s most important support
structure. But it’s more than just the
skeleton and bones.

The skeletal system also includes

connective tissue that helps you stay
supported and safe while you’re moving
and still. It includes muscles that help
you move and creates new blood cells
that keep you healthy. The skeletal
system is also called the musculoskeletal
system.
.

Function

What are the functions of the system?

The skeletal system has several jobs,
some of which are easier to see and feel
than
others. But they’re all important to the
body and health. We have five primary
function of the Skeletal System :

1. Protecting the organs: The human

skeleton is like a built-in suit of armoured
for organs throughout the body. the vital
function of the skeletal system is to
protect the internal organs. The structure
like the skull, the ribs shield the heart
and lungs, and the vertebrae in the spine
keep the spinal cord safe.

2. Movement: the joints, connective

tissue and muscles all work to push and
pull parts of the body every time you
move. A wider range of the body
movement is because of the coordinated
action of the skeletal system, nervous
system and muscles.
3. Support – the skeleton keeps the body
upright and provides a framework for
muscle and tissue attachment. Posture
the skeleton gives the correct shape to
our body. Protection the bones of the
skeleton protect the internal organs and
reduce the risk of injury on impact.
4. Mineral storage – the bones
themselves are made of minerals and
act as a mineral store for calcium and
phosphorous, which can be given up if
the body requires the minerals for other
functions. Attachment of muscles – the
bones of the skeleton provide surfaces
for the attachment of muscles.
5. Production of the blood cells.

Blood cells are made in the bone

marrow. The bone marrow is the soft,
spongy material in the center of the
bones. It produces about 95% of the
body's blood cells. Most of the adult
body's bone
marrow is in the pelvic bones, breast
bone, and the bones of the spine.

Anatomy of the skeletal system

The skeletal system consist of 206

bones with varying shapes, sizes and
functions. There are difference in the
male and female skeleton. The male
skeleton is usually longer and has a high
bone mass while the female skeleton
has a broader pelvis to accommodate for
pregnancy and child birth.

The skeletal system can be divided into

the axial and appendicular system.

-Axial skeleton runs along the body

central axis. It’s called the central core of
the human body. It’s made up of the
skull, vertebral column, the ribs and
sternum
-Appendicular skeleton is made up of the
bones which are the, pelvic girldles,
pectoral girdle and the limbs.

The skeletal system has a lot of other

tissue which includes

-Bones

-ligaments

-cartilages

-Joints

-Tendons
BONE

A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes

part of the skeletal system in human.
Bones protect the various other organs
of the body and enable mobility. It
consists of living bone cells(osteocytes),
protein fibres (collagen) and minerals.
Bones work with muscles and joints to
hold our body together and support
freedom of movements. This is called the
“MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM”

Types of Bone

We have the long bone, short bone, flat

bone and irregular bone

1- The long bone has a long, thin

shape. The long bone include the thigh,
leg, arm, and forearm.
2- The short bone, they are roughly
cube shape with vertical and horizontal
dimensions approximately equal. The
short bone include the wrist bone and
ankles

3- Flat bone, they are thin, flattered

and usually curved. They include the
ribs, shoulder bone, breast bone and the
skull bone

4- Irregular bone, has a shape that

does not not confirm to the above three
types of bone.

In conclusion, Bone serve many

functions as well has supporting the
structure and facilitating movements. It
also produce the blood cell by the
formation of the bone
marrow which is also called the
HAMATOPOIESIS.

LIGAMENTS

A ligament is a strong band of

connective tissue that connects bones to
other bones in a joint. Ligaments help to
stabilize and support the joints, allowing
for proper movement and preventing
excessive

Motion. They play an important role in

maintaining the integrity and function of
the skeletal system.
Functions of cartilage

1. Absorbing shock: cartilage cushions

the bones and joints when you move and
use them. It absorbs force and reduces
how much stress an impacts puts on the
bones.
2. Reducing friction: cartilage lubricates
the joint, it helps the bones slide past
each other without rubbing together. This
lets the joints work as smoothly as they
should and reduces wear and tear on
them

3. Supporting structures in the body:

cartilage helps the joints keep their
shape while moving. It also connects
other tissue together and to the bones.
JOINT

A joint is the part of the body where two

or more bones meet to allow movement.
Every bone in the body – except for the
hyoid bone in the throat – meets up with
at least one other bone at a joint. The
shape of a joint depends on its function.
A joint is also known as an articulation.
Generally speaking, the more movement
that is possible through a joint, the higher
the risk of injury. This is because greater
range of movement reduces the strength
of the joint.
Types of joints

Joints are described by how much

movement they allow. The three broad
classes of joints include:

Immovable – the two or more bones are

in close contact, but no movement can
occur – for example, the bones of the
skull. The joints of the skull are called
sutures.

Slightly movable – two or more bones

are held together so tightly that only
limited movement is permitted – for
example, the vertebrae of the spine.
Freely movable – most joints within the
human body are this type. Motion is the
purpose of the joint.

Freely moving joints

The six types of freely movable joint

include:

Ball and socket joint – the rounded head

of one bone sits within the cup of
another, such as the hip joint or shoulder
joint. Movement in all directions is
allowed.

Saddle joint – this permits movement

back and forth and from side to side, but
does not allow rotation, such as the joint
at the base of the thumb.
Hinge joint – the two bones open and
close in one direction only (along one
plane) like a door, such as the knee and
elbow joints.

Condyloid joint – this permits movement

without rotation, such as in the jaw or
finger joints.

Pivot joint – one bone swivels around the

ring formed by another bone, such as the
joint between the first and second
vertebrae in the neck.

Gliding joint – or plane joint. Smooth

surfaces slip over one another, allowing
limited movement, such as the wrist
joints.

Tendons
Overview
What is a tendon?

A tendon is a cord of strong, flexible

tissue, similar to a rope. Tendons
connect the muscles to the bones.
Tendons let us move our limbs. They
also help prevent muscle injury by
absorbing some of the impact the
muscles take when you run, jump or do
other movements.

The body contains thousands of

tendons. You can find tendons from the
head all the way down to the toes. The
Achilles tendon, which connects the calf
muscle to the heel bone, is the largest
tendon in the body.
Tendons are highly resistant to tearing
but aren’t stretchy. This means they can
be easily injured when strained
(stretched to poire tearing of rope fibers)
and may take a long time to heal.

Care

How can I keep my skeletal system

healthy?

Following a diet and exercise plan that’s

healthy for you will help you maintain the
bone (and overall) health. Seeing a
healthcare provider for regular checkups
can also help catch any issues or
symptoms that affect the skeletal system
as soon as possible.
Follow these general safety tips to
reduce the risk of an injury:

Always wear the seatbelt.

Wear the right protective equipment for

all activities and sports.

Stretch, warm up and cool down before

and after intense physical activity.

Make sure the home and workspace are

free of clutter that could trip you or
others.

Always use the proper tools or

equipment at home to reach things.
Never stand on chairs, tables or
countertops.
Use a cane or walker if you have
difficulty walking or have an increased
risk of falls.