BIO 156

Chapter 12
The Skeleton and Muscles
 Structure and Function of the Human Skeleton

• Bones serve many functions and play an important role in

homeostasis. Bones provide the following:
– Provide internal support.
– Allow for movement.
– Help protect internal body parts.
– Produce blood cells and platelets.
– Store fat.
– Help regulate blood calcium levels.
• The human skeleton
consists of two parts:
– The axial skeleton
– The appendicular
skeleton
• All bones have a hard,
dense outer layer that
surrounds a less
compact central region.
– Inside the bone is the
marrow cavity, filled with
either fat cells (yellow
marrow) or blood cells
and blood-producing
cells (red marrow) or
with combinations of the
two.
• Bones are constantly remodeled in
adults to meet changing stresses
placed on them.
– Two cells are responsible for bone
remodeling:
• Osteoclasts—destroy bone
• Osteoblasts—form bone

• Bone is a homeostatic organ that helps

maintain proper levels of calcium in the
body.
The joints permit varying degrees of mobility.

1. Immovable
2. Slightly movable
3. Freely movable

Immovable Joint
Slightly Movable Joints
Freely Movable Joints
Most of the bones of the human skeleton start out as
hyaline cartilage.
• Bone fractures are repaired by fibroblasts and
osteoblasts.
• Osteoporosis involves a loss of calcium, which results
in brittle, easy-to-break bones.
The Skeletal Muscles
 Skeletal
muscles are
involved in:
1. Body
movements
2. Maintenance of
posture
3. Production of
body heat
• Skeletal muscle cells are known as muscle fibers
and are both excitable and contractile.
• Muscle fibers contain many small bundles of
contractile filaments known as myofibrils.
• During muscle contraction, the actin filaments slide inward,
causing the sarcomeres to shorten.
– The energy for muscle contraction comes from ATP.
– ATP is replenished by creatine phosphate, glycolysis, and
cellular respiration.
• Individual skeletal muscle fibers contract after being stimulated
by an action potential.
– The strength of muscle contraction can be increased by
stimulating (recruiting) additional muscle fibers to contract.
– Additional tension may be created in a muscle fiber if a
nerve impulse arrives while the muscle fiber is still
contracted.
• Muscle tone results from the contraction of a
small number of muscle fibers that keep
muscles slightly tense.

• Two types of muscle fibers are found in

skeletal muscle, slow- and fast-twitch.
– Fast-twitch fibers are found in greatest number
in muscles that perform rapid movement.
– Slow-twitch fibers are found in muscles that
perform slower motions or are involved in
maintaining posture.
End of Chapter 12