Chapter 5

The Skeletal System

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The Skeletal System
Essential Question

What is the purpose of the

skeletal system?
The Skeletal System
 Parts of the skeletal system
 Bones (skeleton)
 Joints
 Cartilages
 Ligaments (bone to bone)(tendon=bone to
muscle)

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The Skeletal System
• Skeleton comes from a Greek word
meaning dried up body.
• Bone appears dead and dried up, but it
is not!
• Bone is living tissue
• Newborn human has 350 bones
• Adult human has 206 bones
Functions of Bones

 Support of the body (framework)

 Protection of soft organs
 Serve as levers (with help from
muscles)
 Storage of minerals and fats (calcium)
 Blood cell formation
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Bones of the Human Body

 Two basic types of bone tissue

 Compact bone
 Dense/hard
 Spongy bone
 (Cancellous)
 Many open spaces Figure 5.2b

Decrease wt of bone/contain red bone

marrow Slide 5.3
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Classification of Bones

 Long bones
 Typically longer than wide
 Have a shaft with heads at both ends
 Contain mostly compact bone
 Found in legs and arms
• Examples: Femur, humerus
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Classification of Bones

 Short bones
 Generally cube-shape and small
 Contain mostly spongy bone
 Found in wrist, ankles, and toes
 Examples: Carpals, tarsals

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Classification of Bones on the
Basis of Shape

Figure 5.1

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Classification of Bones

 Flat bones
 Thin and flattened
 Usually curved
 Cover organs/provide surface for lg. muscle
 Thin layers of compact bone around a layer
of spongy bone
 Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum
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Classification of Bones
 Irregular bones
 Irregular shape
 Do not fit into other bone classification
categories
 Example: Vertebrae and hip
Gross Anatomy of a Bone
 Diaphysis
 Shaft
 Composed of
compact bone
 Epiphysis
 Ends of the bone
 Composed mostly
of spongy bone
Structure of a Long Bone
 Periosteum
 Outside covering of the
diaphysis
 Fibrous connective tissue
membrane
Serves as an attachment
for muscle
 Arteries
 Supply bone cells with
nutrients
Structure of a Long Bone
 Articular cartilage
 Covers the external
surface of the
epiphyses
 Made of hyaline
cartilage
 Decreases friction
at joint surfaces
Structure of a Long Bone
 Medullary cavity
 Cavity of the shaft
 Contains yellow
marrow (mostly fat)
in adults
 Contains red
marrow (for blood
cell formation) in
infants
Changes in the Human Skeleton
 In embryos, the skeleton is primarily hyaline
cartilage
 During development, much of this cartilage
is replaced by bone
 Cartilage remains in isolated areas
 Bridge of the nose
 Parts of ribs
 Joints
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Bone Growth

 Epiphyseal plates allow for growth of

long bone during childhood
 New cartilage is continuously formed
 Older cartilage becomes ossified
 Cartilage is broken down
 Bone replaces cartilage

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Bone Growth

 Bones are remodeled and lengthened

until growth stops
 Grow longitudinally for height
 Bones grow in width to support weight

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Epiphyseal Disc
• Refer to figure 8-3
• Growth plate
• The cartilage near the epiphyseal disc
multiplies and eventually becomes
ossified (turns to bone)
• As long as new cartilage continues to
form the bone continues to lengthen.
Epiphyseal Disc (cont.)
• When the growth plate hardens and
becomes ossified, growth stops
• Hormones play a big part in this
• Growth hormone stimulates growth
• Sex hormones stop growth
Bone Width
• Long after longitudinal bone growth has
stopped, bones continue to grow in
thickness and width.
• Bones are continuously being reshaped
Types of Bone Cells
 Osteocytes
 Mature bone cells
 Osteoblasts
 Bone-forming cells
 Osteoclasts
 Bone-destroying cells
 Break down bone matrix for remodeling and
release of calcium
 Bone remodeling is a process by both
osteoblasts and osteoclasts
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Bone Remodeling
• A combined action of osteoblasts (bone
forming cells) and osteoclasts (bone
destroying cells)
• Osteoblasts deposit bone on the
external bone surface
• Figure 8-5 (like a brick layer)
• Osteoclasts break down bone from the
inside
• Figure 8-5 (like a sculptor)
Long Bone Formation and Growth

Figure 5.4a

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Bone Fractures
 A break in a bone
 Types of bone fractures
 Closed (simple) fracture – break that does not
penetrate the skin
 Open (compound) fracture – broken bone
penetrates through the skin
 Bone fractures are treated by reduction
and immobilization
 Realignment of the bone
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Common Types of Fractures

Table 5.2

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Handout #1
Injuries to bones
Dislocation of joint
• Displacement of bones at the joint
• Often caused by impact trauma to that joint
• Can be more damaging and painful than
a fracture
• Damage to the joint capsule and
surrounding ligaments and tendons often
takes much longer to heal than bone
tissue.
Dislocated Finger
In Groups of 4
• Locate the fracture/dislocation
• Identify the type of fracture
Repair of Bone Fractures
 Hematoma (blood-filled swelling) is
formed
 Break is splinted by fibrocartilage to
form a soft callus
 Blood vessels grow into the
hematoma
 Fibrocartilage callus is replaced by a
bony callus
 Bony callus is remodeled to form a
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permanent patch
Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture

Figure 5.5

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Skeletal System
• Divided into two divisions
• Axial skeleton ~ bones of the cranium,
face, vertebral column, and bony thorax.
• Appendicular skeleton ~ includes the
bones of the pelvic girdles, the upper
extremities and lower extremities.
The Axial Skeleton

 Forms the longitudinal part of the body

 Divided into three parts
 Skull
 Vertebral column
 Bony thorax

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The Axial Skeleton

Figure 5.6
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The Skull (28 bones) (18 names!)

 Sits on top of the vertebral column

 Two sets of bones
 Cranium (8 bones)
 Facial bones (14 bones)
 Bones are joined by sutures
 Only the mandible is attached by a
freely movable joint
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The Cranium
• Bony structure that encases and
protects the brain.
• 8 bones
• Frontal Bone ~ forehead/upper part
of the bony structure surrounding the
eyes.
The Skull

Figure 5.7

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Bones of the Skull

Figure 5.11

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Human Skull, Superior View

Figure 5.8

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Human Skull, Inferior View

Figure 5.9

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The Cranium
• Parietal Bone (2) ~ upper sides of
the head and the roof of the cranial
cavity (top of the head)
The Skull

Figure 5.7

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Bones of the Skull

Figure 5.11

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Human Skull, Superior View

Figure 5.8

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The Cranium
• Temporal Bones (2) ~ sides of the
head, close to ears.
• Commonly called the temples
• Includes the external auditory meatus
• Opening for the ear
• Includes the zygomatic process
• Part of the cheekbone
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
The Cranium
• Occipital Bone ~ back and base of the
cranium
• Includes the foramen magnum
• Foramen means hole
• Large hole for the brainstem/spinal
cord
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
The Cranium
• Sphenoid Bone ~ forms sides of
cranium and parts of orbits of the eyes
• Butterfly shaped
• Includes Sella Turcica (Turk’s Saddle)
• Where pituitary gland sits
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
The Cranium
• Ethmoid Bone ~ irregularly shaped
bone located between the eye orbits
• Major supporting bone of the nasal cavity
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
The Cranium
• That’s it! No more cranium
bones!

• 206 bones - 8 bones = 198

bones to go…
Facial Bones

• 14 bones
• Most of these bones come in
pairs
• Only the mandible and vomer
are single bones
Facial Bones
• Mandible ~ the lower jaw bone
• Carries the lower teeth
• The anterior portion forms the
chin
• Only freely movable joint in
the skull
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
Facial Bones
• Maxilla (2) ~ Upper jaw
• Two bones fused together
• Roof of the mouth
• Also form parts of the nasal
cavity and eye orbits
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
Facial Bones
• Palantine Bones (2) ~ form the
posterior part of the hard palate
and the floor of the nasal cavity.
• Failure of the palatine and/or
maxillary bones to fuse causes a
cleft palate.
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
The Facial Bones
• Zygomatic Bones (2) ~ the
cheekbones
• Also forms a part of the orbits of
the eyes
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
Facial Bones
• Other Facial Bones

• Lacrimal Bones (2) ~ inner wall of eye

sockets
• Nasal Bones (2) ~ bridge of nose
• Vomer ~ nasal septum
• Inferior Nasal Conchae (2)
The Skull (lateral view)
The Skull
The Skull (superior view)
Facial Bones

• That’s it! No more facial bones!

• 198 bones - 14 bones = 184

bones to go…
Paranasal Sinuses
 Functions of paranasal sinuses
 Air filled cavities
 Lighten the skull
 Give resonance and amplification to voice

Figure 5.10

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The Fetal Skull

 The fetal skull is

large compared
to the infants
total body length

Figure 5.13

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The Fetal Skull
 Fontanelles –
fibrous membranes
connecting the
cranial bones
 Allow the brain
to grow
 Convert to bone
within 24 months
after birth
Figure 5.13

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The Hyoid Bone
 U shaped

 Found in the upper

neck

 The only bone that

does not articulate with
another bone

 Serves as a moveable
base for the tongue

Figure 5.12
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Hyoid Bone
Middle Ear
• 3 Tiny bones ~ transmit vibrations
• All derived from Latin words
• Malleus (hammer)
• Incus (anvil)
• Stapes (stirrup)
• Smallest bone in the body
Middle Ear and Hyoid Bones
• That’s it!

• 184 bones - 4 bones = 180 bones to

go…
The Vertebral Column

• The backbone or spine

• Consists of 26 bones called
vertebrae
The Vertebral Column
 Vertebrae
separated by
intervertebral discs
(act as shock
absorbers)
 The spine has a
normal curvature
 Each vertebrae is
given a name
according to its Figure 5.14

location
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Vertebral column
• C1-C7 ~ in the neck
region
• 7 cervical vertebrae
• T1-T12 ~ located in
the chest region
• 12 thoracic vertebrae
• L1-L5 ~ located in
the lower back
• 5 lumbar vertebrae
Vertebral column
• Sacrum ~ curved bone
of the lower back
(posterior wall of the
pelvis)
• fused sacral vertebrae
• 5 vertebrae at birth
• Coccyx ~ the tailbone
• 4 vertebrae at birth
Vertebral Column
• The vertebrae
become larger as
the vertebral column
descends…..WHY?
• Vertebral foramen ~
opening for spinal
cord.
• What is the opening
for the spinal cord in
the skull called?
Vertebral Column
• 180 bones - 26 vertebral column bones
= 154 bones to go!
The Bony Thorax (Thoracic Cage)
 The chest
region
 Forms a cage
to protect
major organs
 Composed of
sternum, ribs
and thoracic
vertebrae. Figure 5.19a

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Thoracic Cage
• Sternum ~
breastbone.
• Dagger-shaped
bone located along
the midline of the
anterior chest.
Thoracic Cage
• Ribs ~ 12 pairs of
ribs attach
posteriorly to the
thoracic vertebrae
• True ribs ~ first 7
pair
• False ribs ~ last 5
pairs
That is it for the axial skeleton!
• 154 bones - 24 ribs -1 sternum = 129
bones to go!!!
The Appendicular Skeleton

 Limbs (appendages)
 Pectoral (shoulder) girdle
 Pelvic girdle

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The Appendicular Skeleton

Figure 5.6c
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The Pectoral (Shoulder) Girdle

 Composed of two bones

 Clavicle – collarbone
 Scapula – shoulder blade
 These bones allow the upper limb to
have exceptionally free movement

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Bones of the Shoulder Girdle

Figure 5.20a, b
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Bones of the Upper Limb

 The arm is
formed by a
single bone
 Humerus
 Head of
humerus
allows for
rotation Figure 5.21a, b
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Bones of the Upper Limb

• The forearm
has two bones
• Ulna
• Radius

Figure 5.21c
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Radius
• Radius ~ locate on
the lateral or thumb
side when the palm
of the hand is facing
forward.
Ulna
• Ulna~ the longer of
the two forearm
bones.
• Located on the
medial or little finger
side of the forearm.
Bones of the Upper Limb

 The hand
 Carpals – wrist
 Metacarpals –
palm
 Phalanges –
fingers
Figure 5.22

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Bones of the Pelvic Girdle
 Composed of two coxal bones (hip bones)
 Composed of three pair of fused bones
 Ilium
 Ischium
 Pubis
 The total weight of the upper body rests on the
pelvis
 Protects several organs
 Reproductive organs
 Urinary bladder
 Part of the large intestine
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The Pelvis

Figure 5.23a

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Gender Differences of the Pelvis

Figure 5.23c

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Bones of the Lower Limbs
 The thigh has
one bone
 Femur – thigh
bone

Figure 5.35a, b

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Bones of the Lower Limb
• Patella ~ knee cap
• Triangular bone
located within a
tendon that passes
over the knee.
Bones of the Lower Limbs
 The leg has
two bones
 Tibia ~ shin
bone
 larger
 Fibula
 Long and
thin
Figure 5.35c

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Bones of the Lower Limbs

 The foot
 Tarsal (7)–
ankle
 Metatarsals
(5)–
sole/instep
 Phalanges
(14) – toes Figure 5.25

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Joints
 Articulations of bones
 Functions of joints
 Hold bones together
 Provide flexibility
 Ways joints are classified
 By their function
 By their structure
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Functional Classification of Joints

 Synarthroses – immovable joints

 Amphiarthroses – slightly moveable
joints
 Diarthroses – freely moveable joints

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Structural Classification of Joints

 Fibrous joints
 Generally immovable
 Cartilaginous joints
 Immovable or slightly moveable
 Synovial joints
 Freely moveable

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Fibrous Joints
 Bones united by fibrous tissue –
synarthrosis or largely immovable.

Figure 5.27d, e

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Cartilaginous Joints – mostly
amphiarthrosis
 Bones connected by cartilage
 Examples
 Pubic
symphysis
 Intervertebral
joints

Figure 5.27b, c

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Synovial Joints
 Articulating
bones are
separated by a
joint cavity
 Synovial fluid
is found in the
joint cavity
 Reinforced by
ligaments Figure 5.27f–h

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The Synovial Joint

Figure 5.28

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6 Types of Synovial Joints

• Hinge joint
• Movement is like two boards joined
together by a hinge
• Movement in one direction
• Elbow, knees, fingers
Types of Synovial Joints
• Ball and Socket Joint
• When ball-shaped end of one bone fits into
the cup-shaped socket of another
• Bones can move in many directions
• Shoulder, hip
Types of Synovial Joints
• Pivot Joint
• Allows for rotation around the length of a
bone.
• Allows only for rotation
• Head (side to side “no” action)
• Forearm joints (palms)
supination/pronation
Types of Synovial Joints
• Saddle Joint
• When the surfaces of both articulation
bones are saddle-shaped
• Concave/convex
• Thumb
• Wide range of motion
Types of Synovial Joints
• Gliding Joint
• Interaction of flat surfaces of articulating
bones
• Limited but complex movement
• Wrist, ankle
Types of Synovial Joints
• Condyloid Joint
• Oval-shaped articular surface of one bone
fits into the oval-shaped depression of
another
• Mandible, knuckles
Inflammatory Conditions
Associated with Joints
 Bursitis – inflammation of a bursa usually
caused by a blow or friction
 Tendonitis – inflammation of tendon sheaths
 Arthritis – inflammatory or degenerative
diseases of joints
 Over 100 different types
 The most widespread crippling disease in the
United States
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Clinical Forms of Arthritis
 Osteoarthritis
 Most common chronic arthritis
 Probably related to normal aging processes
 Rheumatoid arthritis
 An autoimmune disease – the immune system
attacks the joints
 Symptoms begin with bilateral inflammation of
certain joints
 Often leads to deformities
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Clinical Forms of Arthritis

 Gouty Arthritis
 Inflammation of joints is caused by a
deposition of urate crystals from the blood
 Can usually be controlled with diet
 Red meat and wine are high in uric acid

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