BIO 11.
01
SKELETAL SYSTEM REVIEWER
KIRSTEN ANGELES
Note that this reviewer is not as detailed as it could
be. For more details visit the Principles of Anatomy
and Physiology
Bones
● Bone - an organ made up of several
different tissues working together
○ Bone (osseous) tissue
○ Cartilage
○ Dense connective tissue
○ Epithelium
○ Adipose tissue
○ Nervous tissue
● Familiar bones
○ Hip (pelvic) bones
○ Ribs
○ Sternum (breastbone),
○ Vertebrae (backbones)
○ Skull
○ Humerus (arm bone)
○ Femur (thigh bone).
● Human skeleton - 206 bones
Functions
● Support and structure for soft tissues
● Protects vital organs
● Assistance in movement
○ Skeletal muscles attach to
bones, when contracted,
produces movement
● Mineral homeostasis (Storage and
release)
○ Bone tissue makes up about
18% of the weight of the
human body
○ 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)
● Blood cell production through red
bone marrow
● Triglyceride storage through yellow
bone marrow
Classification by Shape
1. Long bone​ - bone in greater length
than width
● Diaphysis - bone shaft or
body
● Epiphysis - proximal and
distal ends
● Examples - humerus (arm
bone)
2. Flat bones
● Examples - parietal bone (on
skull)
3. Short bones
● Examples - carpals (on wrist)
4. Irregular bones
● Examples - vertebra (small
bones forming the backbone)
Types of Systems
1. Hydrostatic skeleton​ - supported by
water/fluid pressure
● Soft-bodied animals i.e.
earthworms, sea anemones
● Circular muscles squeeze
body
● Longitudinal muscles shorten
the body
2. Exoskeleton​ - external skeleton
supporting animal’s body
● Arthropods i.e. insects,
spiders
● Internal skeleton made of
chitin ​(a carbohydrate)
 ●Muscles attach to the
exoskeleton - flexible at joints
3. Endoskeleton​ - internal skeleton
● Vertebrates
● Made of cartilage/bone
● Bone and cartilage; living
tissue (connective tissue)
Exoskeleton vs Endoskeleton
● Exoskeleton
○ Prevents growth
○ When they burst out it’s
painful
○ Heavier
● Endoskeleton
○ More protection, less mobility
Cartilage
● Cartilage tissue consists of
chondrocytes (cartilage cells) in a
matrix of collagen protein
● Tough, flexible material that pads
joints
● Found in nose and ears
Bone Tissue
● Bone is made up of one cells in a
matrix of collagen and minerals
● Addition of minerals and nutrients
Bone cells
● Osteocytes - bone cell
● Osteoblasts - precursor
● Osteoclasts - old bone cell
Bones may be made of
● Compact bone tissue
○ Contains few spaces
○ Strongest form of bone tissue
○ found beneath the
periosteum of all bones and
makes up the bulk of the
diaphyses of long bones
○ Provides protection and
support and resists stresses
produced by weight and
movement
● Spongy bone
○ Location of red bone marrow
○ Located in interior of bone
○ Light, reduces all over weight
of bone, so that bone can
move more readily
● Marrow cavity
○ Yellow marrow
Bone marrow
1. Red bone marrow
● Found in ​flat bones​ of
sternum, ribs, and ileum
● Hemopoiesis
○ Produces red blood
cells, white blood
cells, and platelets;
hemoglobin
○ consists of
developing blood
cells, adipocytes,
fibroblasts, and
macrophages within a
network of reticular
fibers
○ Present in developing
bones of the fetus
and in some adult
bones
2. Yellow bone marrow
● Found in shaft of long bones
● Contains fat and connective
tissue
● Triglyceride storage
○ Yellow bone marrow
consists mainly of
adipose cells, which
store triglycerides.
 The stored
triglycerides are a Healing Fractures
potential chemical ● Fracture - break in the continuity of
energy reserve. one
Joints Phases
● Doesn’t give support but gives 1. Reactive
flexibility ● Inflammation, blood clot
● Area where bones meet 2. Reparative
● Holds bones together while allowing ● Callus
the body to move ● Cartilage replaces clot
Types 3. Remodeling
1. Synarthrosis​ - immovable i.e. skull ● Tigas
2. Amphiarthrosis​ - slightly movable i.e. ● Cast - to make it straight and
vertebral joints stable
3. Diarthrosis/Synovial​ - freely Osteoporosis
moveable i.e. shoulders, hips ● Loss of bone mass
● Found at all limb articulations ● Leads to brittle bones
● Surface covered with ● Note: just the endpoint of the
cartilage problem
● Joint cavity covered with Contributors
tough fibrous capsule ● Age
● Cavity lined with​ synovial ● Lack of calcium and vitamin D
membrane​, filled with ● Sedentary
synovial fluid (serous ● Multiple pregnancies
membrane) ● Menopause, alcohol
● Smoking
Ligaments
● Bands of connective tissue
connecting bone to bone
● Either limits/enhances movement
● Provides joint stability
● Enhances joint strength

Tendon
● Fibrous connective tissue bands that
connect bone to muscle
● Enables bones to move when the
muscles contract