CHAPTER 6: SKELETAL SYSTEM Collagen – a tough, ropelike protein.

Proteoglycans – large molecules consisting of

Functions of the Skeletal System polysaccharides attached to core proteins.
❖ Support ➢ Bone – contains collagen and minerals, including
➢ E.g. Cartilage provides firm yet flexible support calcium and phosphate. Collagen fibers lend flexible
within certain structures, such as the nose, strength to the bone and the mineral component gives the
external ear, thoracic cage, and trachea. bone compression or weight-bearing strength. Most of
❖ Protection the mineral in bone is in the form of calcium phosphate
➢ E.g. Skull encloses and protects the brain, and crystals called hydroxyapatite.
the vertebrae surround the spinal cord.
❖ Movement Bone Classification
➢ E.g. Joints, where two or more bones come 4 Types of Bones based on shape:
together, allow movement between bones. ❖ Long Bones
❖ Storage ➢ Longer than they are wide.
➢ E.g. Some like calcium and phosphorus are ➢ All bones of the limbs except for the patella and
stored in bone. Adipose tissue is also stored the bones of the wrist and ankle.
within bone cavities. ❖ Short Bones
❖ Blood Cell Production ➢ Long as they are wide.
➢ E.g. Many bones contain cavities filled with red ➢ Roughly cube shaped.
bone marrow, which produces blood cells and ➢ Bones of the wrist and the ankle.
platelets. ❖ Flat Bones
➢ Relatively thin and flat.
➢ Certain bones of the skull, ribs, and scapulae.
❖ Irregular Bones
➢ Have weird shapes that fit none of the 3
previous classes.
➢ Vertebrae and facial bones.

Bone Structure
❖ Compact Bone
➢ Mostly solid matrix and cells.
❖ Spongy Bone (Cancellous)
➢ Consists of delicate interconnecting rods or
plates of bone called trabeculae.

Components of Skeletal System Parts of a Long Bone

❖ Bone ❖ Epiphysis
❖ Cartilage ➢ Two ends of a long bone.
➢ Reduce friction and model for bone formation. ❖ Diaphysis (Central Shaft)
❖ Tendons ➢ Middle, long portion of a long bone.
➢ Attach bones to muscle.
❖ Ligaments
➢ Attach bones to bone.

Extracellular Matrix
➢ Bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments are all
connective tissues.
➢ Tendons and Ligaments – contains large amounts of
collagen fibers, making there structures very tough, like
ropes or cables.
➢ Cartilage – contains collagen that makes it tough and
water — filled proteoglycans that make it smooth and
resilient. It is relatively rigid, but it springs back to its
original shape after being bend or slightly compressed. It
is an excellent shock absorber.
Long Bone Structures
❖ Articular Cartilage
➢ Covers the ends of the epiphyses where the
bone articulates (joins) with other bones.
➢ Reduces friction.
❖ Epiphyseal Plate (Growth Plate)
➢ The site where the bone grows in length.
➢ Replaced by bone and becomes an epiphyseal
line when bone growth stops.
❖ Medullary Cavity
➢ A space within the center of the diaphysis.
➢ Filled with yellow marrow (consisting mostly of
adipose tissue) and red marrow (consisting of
blood-forming cells and is the only site of blood
formation in adults).
❖ Periosteum
➢ Dense connective tissue membrane covering the Histology of Bone
bone’s outer surface. ❖ Osteoblasts
❖ Endosteum ➢ Bone-forming cells, which function in the
➢ Thinner connective tissue membrane that lines formation of bone, as well as in the repair and
the surface of medullary cavity remodeling of bone.
➢ Periosteum and endosteum contain osteblasts.
❖ Osteocytes
➢ Osteoblasts being surrounded by matrix.
➢ Mature bone cells located in lacunae (spaces)
between the lamellae of each osteon.
❖ Osteoclasts
➢ Bone-eating cells that contribute to bone repair
and remodeling by removing existing bone.
❖ Lamellae
. ➢ Thin sheets of extracellular matrix where bone
is formed.
❖ Lacunae
➢ Spaces between lamella.
❖ Canaliculi
➢ Tiny, small canals running through the bone
solid matrix.
➢ Through these, nutrients leave the blood vessels
of the central canals and diffuse to the
osteocytes. Waste products diffuse in the
opposite direction.

Compact Bone
➢ Location: forms outer part of diaphysis (long bones) and
thinner surfaces of other bones.

Osteon
➢ Structural unit of compact bone.
➢ Includes lamella, lacunae, canaliculus, central
canal/haversian canal, and osteocytes (located
in lacunae between the lamellae of each osteon).
Central Canal/Haversian Canal
➢ Where blood vessels that run parallel to the long
axis of the bone are located.
Spongy / Cancellous Bone
➢ Location: epiphyses of long bones and forms the interior
of other bones.

Trabeculae
➢ Delicate interconnecting rods or plates of bone.
➢ Add strength to a bone without the added
weight and spaces.
➢ Filled with marrow.
➢ No blood vessels penetrate.
➢ No central canals.

Bone Ossification
Ossification
➢ The process of bone formation by osteblasts.
➢ Occurs in utero.

Intramembranous Ossification
➢ Bone formation that occurs within connective
tissue membrane.
➢ Occurs when osteoblast begin to produce bone
in connective tissue membranes.
➢ Occurs primarily in the bones of the skull.
➢ Begins in areas called ossification centers.

Endochondral Ossification
➢ Bone formation that occurs inside cartilage.
➢ Cartilage models are replaced by bone.
➢ Endochondral ossification occurs in the bones
forming the inferior part of the skull.