The Skeletal System

BONE
- Organ made up of several different tissues
STRUCTURE OF BONE
working together: bone (osseous) tissue, PARTS OF A LONG BONE
cartilage, dense connective tissue, epithelium,
adipose tissue, and nervous tissue. DIAPHYSIS
- shaft of long bone; made up mostly of compact
SKELETAL SYSTEM bone
- Entire framework of bones and their cartilages EPIPHYSIS
- broad end of long bone; mostly spongy bone
OSTEOLOGY METAPHYSIS
- Study of bone structure - growth area between diaphysis and epiphysis
ARTICULAR CARTILAGE
FUNCTIONS OF BONE AND THE SKELETAL - hyaline cartilage at joint

SYSTEM PERIOSTEUM
- fibrous covering over most of bone
SUPPORT
MEDULLARY CAVITY
The skeleton serves as the structural framework for - (marrow cavity) with fat and blood cells
the body by supporting soft tissues and providing
attachment points for the tendons of most skeletal ENDOSTEUM
muscles. - thin membrane lining medullary cavity

PROTECTION
The skeleton protects the most important internal
organs from injury. For example, cranial bones
protect the brain, and the rib cage protects the heart
and lungs.

ASSISTANCE IN MOVEMENT
Most skeletal muscles attach to bones; when they
contract, they pull on bones to produce movement.

MINERAL HOMEOSTASIS (Storage and Release)

Bone tissue makes up about 18% of the weight of the
human body. It stores several minerals, especially
calcium and phosphorus, which contribute to the
strength of bone. Bone tissue stores about 99% of the
body’s calcium. On demand, bone releases minerals
into the blood to maintain critical mineral balances
(homeostasis) and to distribute the minerals to other
parts of the body.

BLOOD CELL PRODUCTION

Within certain bones, a connective tissue called red
bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood
cells, and platelets, a process called hemopoiesis. Red
bone marrow consists of developing blood cells,
adipocytes, fibroblasts, and macrophages within a
network of reticular fibers. It is present in developing
bones of the fetus and in some adult bones, such as
the hip (pelvic) bones, ribs, sternum (breastbone),
vertebrae (backbones), skull, and ends of the bones
of the humerus (arm bone) and femur (thigh bone).
In a newborn, all bone marrow is red and is involved
in hemopoiesis. With increasing age, much of the
bone marrow changes from red to yellow.

TRIGLYCERIDE STORAGE
Yellow bone marrow consists mainly of adipose cells,
which store triglycerides. The stored triglycerides
are a potential chemical energy reserve.