The Skeletal System-

Osseous Tissue & Skeletal Structure

Chapter 5
 The skeletal system includes:
 Bones
 Cartilage
 Joints
 Ligaments
 Other connective tissues
 Functions of the Skeletal System
 Support against gravity
 Protection of soft internal organs
 Movement (Leverage)
 Storage
 Minerals (calcium, phosphorous) – within the
matrix of bone tissue
 Energy reserve (adipose) – within the yellow

marrow of long bones

 Bloodcell production – within red marrow of
spongy bone tissue
The Structure of a Typical Bone
 All bones have a combination of spongy
(cancellous) & compact (dense) bone tissue
The Histological Features of Spongy Bone
 Lamellae (layers) of matrix laid down in trabeculae - branching
network of bony tissue
 Osteocytes located within lacunae
 Canaliculi branch out from lacunae
 Many marrow cavities which contain red marrow & small blood
vessels
The Histological Features of Compact Bone
 Osteon/Haversian system - basic
functional unit of compact bone

Concentric lamellae (layers) of matrix

surrounding central (Haversian) canal
Osteocytes located within lacunae
Canaliculi branch out radially from lacunae

Central canals (containing BVs) run

vertically down the length of the
bone
Perforating (Volkmann’s) canals
(containing BVs) run horizontally
across the width
Bone Cells
 In addition to Osteocytes, the mature bone
cells found within the matrix of bone tissue,
there are three other cells that are associated
with bones
 Osteoprogenitor cells
 Osteoblasts
 Osteoclasts
Bone Cells
 Osteoprogenitor cells
 Derived from mesenchymal cells
 Can undergo mitosis
 Mature into osteoblasts
Bone Cells
 Osteoblasts
 Responsible for osteogenesis – create bone
tissue
 Mature into osteocytes
Bone Cells
 Osteoclasts
 Derived from embryological WBCs
 Secrete enzymes for osteolysis –
resorb/break down bone tissue
 Necessary for calcium homeostasis
 Anatomical Classification of Bones
Bones are classified by their basic shape
Flat bones
Sutural bones

Irregular bones

Long bones

Short bones
Sesamoid bones
Structure of a Typical Long Bone

diaphysis (compact bone)

The Structure of a Long Bone
epiphysis (spongy bone)

diaphysis

epiphysis
The Structure of a Long Bone
articular cartilage epiphysis

diaphysis

epiphysis
articular cartilage
The Structure of a Long Bone
epiphysis

metaphysis – location of
• epiphyseal plate – in children
• epiphyseal line – in adults

diaphysis

metaphysis
epiphysis
articular cartilage
The Structure of a Long Bone

medullary cavity
• filled with yellow marrow in adults

• lined with endosteum

The Structure of a Long Bone
Double layered membrane surrounding
bone except at articular cartilage
Inner cellular layer contains
osteoprogenitor cells, osteoblasts,
osteoclasts; therefore functions in
bone growth & repair
periosteum

Outer fibrous layer of dense

irregular CT for attachment of
tendons& ligaments; provides route
for blood vessels & nerves;
separates bone tissue from
surrounding tissues
Bone Formation and Growth
 Ossification - Process of converting other
tissues to bone; begins around week 6-8 of
embryological development

Two types of ossification processes occur

during embryological formation:
• Intramembranous
•Endochondral
Intramembranous Ossification

 Forms flat bones of skull, mandible, clavicle

 Replacement of mesenchymal membrane with
osseous tissue
 Mesenchymal cells differentiate to osteoprogenitor
cells, which then become osteoblasts
 Osteoblasts create spongy bone, which then
remodels into compact bone where necessary
Endochondral Ossification
 Most bones formed this way
 Mesenchyme creates Cartilage model, which gets replaced
by bone
 Replacement begins in middle (diaphysis) & follows in ends
(epiphyses)
 Endochondral Ossification

Cartilage model grows in length

(interstitial growth) & in width
(appositional growth)

Chondrocytes at the center of the

growing cartilage model enlarge and
then die as the matrix calcifies.

Cartilage
model

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Chondrocytes at
the center of the Newly derived osteoblasts cover
growing cartilage
model enlarge the shaft of the cartilage in a thin
and then die as
the matrix
calcifies.
layer of bone.
Enlarging
chondrocytes within
calcifying matrix
Epiphysis
The perichondrium, which
Diaphysis surrounded the cartilage model,
now must be referred to as the
periosteum.
Bone
formation

Cartilage
model

Figure 5.7
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Chondrocytes at
the center of the
Newly derived
osteoblasts cover Blood vessels penetrate the
growing cartilage
model enlarge
the shaft of the
cartilage in a thin cartilage. New osteoblasts
and then die as layer of bone.
the matrix
calcifies.
form a primary ossification
Enlarging
center.
chondrocytes within
calcifying matrix
Epiphysis

Diaphysis Marrow
cavity

Primary
ossification
center
Bone
formation Blood
vessel
Cartilage
model

Figure 5.7
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Chondrocytes at
the center of the
Newly derived
osteoblasts cover
Blood vessels
penetrate the Bone tissue
growing cartilage
model enlarge
the shaft of the
cartilage in a thin
cartilage. New
osteoblasts form a continues to
and then die as layer of bone. primary ossification
the matrix
calcifies.
center. replace
Enlarging
cartilage of the
chondrocytes within
calcifying matrix diaphysis, and
Epiphysis & continues
Marrow
Marrow toward each
Diaphysis
cavity
cavity
epiphysis.
Primary
ossification
center Blood
Bone
formation Blood
vessel The medullary
Cartilage
vessel
cavity begins
model
to hollow out

Figure 5.7
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Blood vessels invade the epiphyses and osteoblasts form
secondary centers of ossification.
Cartilage remains only at the ends (articular cartilage) & at
metaphysis (epiphyseal plate)

Chondrocytes at Newly derived Blood vessels The bone of the

the center of the osteoblasts cover penetrate the shaft thickens,
growing cartilage the shaft of the cartilage. New and the cartilage
model enlarge cartilage in a thin osteoblasts form a near each
and then die as layer of bone. primary ossification epiphysis is
the matrix center. replaced by shafts Articular
calcifies. of bone. cartilage
Enlarging
chondrocytes within
calcifying matrix
Epiphysis
Epiphyseal
cartilage
Marrow
Diaphysis Marrow
cavity
cavity

Primary Secondary
ossification ossification
center Blood center
Bone vessel
formation Blood
vessel
Cartilage
model
 An Overview of the Skeleton
There are 206 bones in the adult human body
Skeletal Divisions
 Axial skeleton (80 bones)
 Skull
 Thoracic cage and sternum
 Vertebral column
 Appendicular skeleton (126 bones)
 Upper, lower limbs
 Pectoral girdle
 Pelvic girdle
Bone Markings (Surface Features)
Table 5-1

General elevations & projections:

 process
 ramus

Markings for articulations:

 head
 condyle
 facet
 Bone Markings (Surface Features)
Spinous
Processes for attachment: process

 trochanter (femur only)

 tuberosity
 tubercle Transverse
process
 epicondyle
 crest
 line
 spinous process (vertebrae
only)
 transverse process (vertebrae
only)
Bone Markings (Surface Features)
Depressions:
fossa
sulcus

Spinous
process

Transverse
process Openings:
foramen (canal)
meatus
fissure
sinus
Bone Markings (Surface Features)