The Skeletal System

Zorenne B. Basilio, RN
 Objectives
• 1. Discuss various concepts and principles of anatomy in the care of
individuals. (PO/SLO 1 PI 1)
• 2. Recognize ability to manage information, theories, and concepts of
anatomy and physiology to be effective and efficient in clients care.
(PO/SLO 3 PI 1)
 “Essential Question”

What is the purpose of the

skeletal system?
 Functions of the Skeletal System
A) Support – The bones act as the structural framework for
the body by providing attachment sites for muscles.
B) Protection – Many of the body’s internal organs are
covered by bony structures.
C) Movement – Bones assist skeletal muscles to produce
movement.
D) Maintain mineral homeostasis – Bones store and release
salts of calcium and phosphorus.
E) Hemopoiesis – The production of blood cells occurs in the
red marrows of the bones.
F) Triglyceride storage – This occurs in the yellow marrow of
adults.
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
• Parts of the skeletal
system
• Bones (skeleton)
• Joints
• Cartilages
• Ligaments (bone to
bone)(tendon=bone to
muscle)
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
Bones of the Human Body
• Two basic types of bone tissue
• Compact bone
• Dense/hard
• Spongy bone
• (Cancellous)
Many open spaces
Decrease wt of bone/contain red bone marrow
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
Classification of Bones
• Short bones
• Generally cube-shape and small
• Contain mostly spongy bone
• Found in wrist, ankles, and toes
• Examples: Carpals, tarsals
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
Classification of Bones on the Basis of Shape

Figure 5.1
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
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
Bone Growth
• Bones are remodeled and lengthened until growth
stops
• Grow longitudinally for height
• Bones grow in width to support weight
Epiphyseal Disc
•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
Long Bone Formation and Growth
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
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.
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
permanent patch
Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture
 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
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
 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 Cranium

•Parietal Bone (2) ~ upper sides of the

head and the roof of the cranial cavity
(top of the head)
 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 Cranium
•Occipital Bone ~ back and base of the cranium
•Includes the foramen magnum
•Foramen means hole
•Large hole for the brainstem/spinal
cord
 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 Cranium
•Ethmoid Bone ~ irregularly shaped bone located
between the eye orbits
•Major supporting bone of the nasal cavity
The Skull
Bones of the Skull
Human Skull, Superior View
Human Skull, Inferior 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
 Facial Bones
•Maxilla (2) ~ Upper jaw
•Two bones fused together
•Roof of the mouth
•Also form parts of the nasal cavity and eye orbits
 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 Facial Bones
•Zygomatic Bones (2) ~ the cheekbones
•Also forms a part of the orbits of the eyes
 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)
 Facial Bones
•That’s it! No more facial bones!

•198 bones - 14 bones = 184 bones to go…