Skeletal System
MARIA HASEEN
DPT,MS-CPPT*
Introduction
Skeletal system is the system of bones, associated cartilages and joints of human body.
Together these structures form the human skeleton.
Skeleton can be defined as the hard framework of human body around which the entire
body is built.
Cont.
Typically there are about 206 bones
For convenience the skeleton is divided into the:
Axial skeleton
Appendicular skeleton
Cont.
Components of Human Skeleton:
Human skeleton is composed of three main components
Bones
Associated cartilages
and Joints.
Two Major Skeletal System Parts
Axial Skeleton: The axial skeleton
includes the skull, spine, ribs and
sternum.
Appendicular Skeleton: it includes
the appendages of the body, which are
the shoulders, arms, hips, and legs.
Functions of the Skeletal System
. Movement: Skeletal system provides points of
attachment for muscles. Your legs and arms move
when the muscles pull on the bones.
2. Support: The backbone is the main support center
for the upper body. It holds your head up and protects
your spinal cord.
. Protection: The bones of your skull protect your
brain. Your ribs protect your lungs and heart from
injury.
Cont.
Makes Blood: Red and white blood cells are
formed by tissue called marrow, which is in the
center of the bone.
. Storage: Bones store minerals, such as
calcium and phosphorus, for use by the
body
Skeletal System Bones
Four basic bone shapes
1. Long bones - arms, legs and fingers
2. Short- wrist and ankles
3. Flat- skull and sternum
4. Irregular- spine
5. Sesamoid- Kneecap
Long Bones
longest bones in the body, such as the Femur
also some of the smallest bone like Phalanges.
longer than it is wide
outer compact bone and a spongy inner known an cancellous bone containing
bone marrow.
Both ends are covered in hyaline cartilage to provide cushion and protection
Short bone
Short bones are wide than its length
have a primary function of providing support and stability with little movement.
Examples of short bones are the Carpals and Tarsals
consist of only a thin layer of compact bone with cancellous bone on the inside.
Flat Bones
Flat bones are as they strong, flat plates of bone
providing protection to the bodies vital organs and being a base for muscular
attachment.
example of a flat bone is the Scapula (shoulder blade)
Irregular Bones
Irregular shape
Good examples of these are the Vertebrae,
They primarily consist of cancellous bone, with a thin outer layer of compact bone.
Sesamoid Bones
Sesamoid bones are usually short or irregular bones, imbedded in a tendon.
example of this is the Patella (knee cap)
present in a tendon where it passes over a joint which serves to protect the
tendon.
Bone Structure
Typical Four Layers:
Periosteum: Covers Bones
Compact Bone: Lies beneath the
periosteum
Spongy Bone: Lies beneath the
compact bone
Bone Marrow: Fills the gaps
between the spongy bone
Diaphysis
Shaft of the bone
Most of the bones length
Dense bone
Covered by fibrous connective tissue
(periosteum)
Epiphyses
Ends of long bones
Thin layer of compact bone surrounding spongy bone
Covered by Articular Cartilage
hyaline cartilage
Slippery and smooth
Cont.
• Axial Skeleton
• Skull
• Spine
• Rib cage
• Appendicular Skeleton
• Upper limbs
• Lower limbs
• Shoulder girdle
• Pelvic girdle
Divisions of the Skeletal System
The adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones grouped as the axial skeleton
and the appendicular skeleton.
The axial division consists of the bones of the skull, hyoid bone, ribs, breast
bone, and the backbone.
The appendicular division consists of the bones of the upper and lower
extremities (limbs), plus the bones called girdles, which connect the extremities
to the axial skeleton.
There are 80 bones in the axial division and 126 in the appendicular.
Axial skeleton:
The part of skeleton which form axis or central bony part of the body is called axial
skeleton.
It consist of:
Head/Skull (22 bones)
Ossicles of ear (6)
Hyoid Bone (1)
vertebral column (26 bones)
Ribs (24 bones)
Sternum (01 bone)
Cont.
Skeletal System:
Axial Skeleton
(Skull)
1) Head/Skull:
The skull is the upper part of the axial skeleton which is present on the vertebral
column. It is divided into two parts;
1) Cranium (08 bones)
2) Face (14 bones)
1) Cranium:
the cavity which enclosed the brain and is formed by a number of flat and irregular
bones is called cranium.
Cont.
The floor of the cranium is called base roof is called vault.
Cranium consist of the following 8 bones
1 frontal bone
2 parietal bone
1 occipital bone
2 temporal bone
1 sphenoid bone
1 ethmoid bone
Frontal bone:
Frontal (1): Anterior and superior
part of cranium, forehead and brow
areas, which protects front part of the
brain
Parietal bone:
Parietal (2): Superior sides and roof
cranium, between frontal and occipital
bones, that protects the top and sides of the
brain.
Temporal bone:
Temporal (2): sides and base of
cranium at temples that protect the
ear ossicles.
Occipital bone:
Occipital (1): Posterior part of the
cranium including the base that
protects the posterior part of the
brain
Sphenoid bone:
Sphenoid (1): Base of cranium, anterior to
occipital and temporal bones which houses the
pituitary gland.
Ethmoid bone:
Ethmoid (1): Base of cranium, anterior to
the body of sphenoid and forms the roof of
nasal cavity and septum.
Bones of the Face
Face is formed by 14 flat and irregular bones in addition to the hyoid bone which is
present in the neck:
2 Maxilla , 2 zygomatic bones
2 nasal bones , 2 lacrimal bones
1 vomer , 2 palatine bones
2 inferior conchae , 1 mandible
