SKELETAL SYSTEM
Parts of the skeletal system
 Bones (skeleton)
 Joints
 Cartilages
 Ligaments
Divided into two divisions
1. Axial Skeleton
Consists of 80 bones and includes the body
framework of the head and the trunk.
2. Appendicular Skeleton
Consists of 126 bones and forms the
framework for the extremities and for the
shoulder.
Functions of Bones
Support of the body
As a firm framework for the entire body
Protection of soft organs
Movement due to attached skeletal muscles
To serve as levers
Bones of the Human Body
The adult skeleton has 206 bones
Two basic types of bone tissue
1. Compact Bone (Homogeneous)
Hard and dense and Makes up the main shaft
of a long bone and the outer layer of other
bones.
2. Spongy Bone (Cancellous)
Has more spaces than compact bone and made
of a meshwork of small, bony plates filled
with red marrow.
Classification of Bones
Long Bones
 Typically longer than wide
 Have a shaft with heads at both ends
 Contain mostly compact bone
Examples: Femur, humerus
Short Bones
 Generally cube-shape
 Contain mostly spongy bone
Examples: Carpals, tarsals
Flat Bones
 Thin and flattened
 Usually curved
 Thin layers of compact bone around a
layer of spongy bone
Examples: Skull, ribs, sternum
Irregular Bones
 Irregular shape
 Do not fit into other bone
classification categories
Example: Vertebrae and hip
Gross Anatomy of a Long Bone
Diaphysis
Shaft and Composed of compact bone
Epiphysis
Ends of the bone and Composed mostly of
spongy bone
Structures of a Long Bone
Periosteum
Outside covering of the diaphysis and Fibrous
Connective tissue membrane
Sharpey’s fibers
Secure periosteum to underlying bone
Arteries Depressions or Holes

Supply bone cells with nutrients Foramen (Foramina)

Medullary cavity A hole that allows a vessels or a nerve to pass

through or between bones
Cavity of the shaft
Sinus
Contains yellow marrow (mostly fat) in adults
An air space found in som skull bones
Articular Cartilage
Fossa (Fossae)
Covers the external surface of the epiphyses
A depression on a bone surface
Made of hyaline cartilage
Meatus
Bone Markings
A short channel or passageway
 Surface (distinguishing) features of
bones Such as the channel in temporal bone that
 Sites of attachments for muscles, leads to the inner ear
tendons, and ligaments
 Passages for nerves and blood vessels Microscopic Anatomy of Bone
Projections: Osteon (Haversian System)
Head  A unit of bone
A rounded, knob-like end separated from the Central (Haversian) canal
crest of the bone by slender region, the neck
 Opening in the center of an osteon
Process
 Carries blood vessels and nerves
A large projection of a bone, such as the upper
part of the ulna in the forearm that creates the Perforating (Volkman’s) canal
elbow
 Canal perpendicular to the central
Condyle canal Carries blood vessels and
nerves
A round projection
Lacunae
A small projection above a condyle is an
epicondyle  Cavities containing bone cells
(osteocytes)
Crest
 Arranged in concentric rings
A distinct border or ridge, often rough Such as
over the top of the hip bone Canaliculi

Spine  Tiny canals

 Radiate from the central canal to
A sharp projection from the surface of a bone lacunae
Such as the spine of the scapula
 Form a transport system
Lamellae The Skull

 Rings around the central canal Two sets of bones

 Sites of lacunae
 Cranium
Changes in the Human  Facial bones
Skeleton Bones are joined by sutures
In embryos, the skeleton is primarily Only the mandible is attached by a
hyaline cartilage freely movable joint
Cartilage remains in isolated areas The Fetal Skull
Bridge of the nose , Parts of ribs, Joints
Bone Growth
Epiphyseal plates allow for growth of long
bone during childhood
Types of Bone Cells
1. Osteocytes
Mature bone cells
2. Osteoblasts
Bone Forming Cells
3. Osteoclasts
Bone-destroying cells
Break down bone matrix for remodeling
and release of calcium
The Axial Skeleton
Forms the longitudinal part of the body
Divided into three parts:

 Skull
 Vertebral column
 Bony thorax