Skeletal System

Learning Objectives
1. List the general characteristics and functions of bone
2. Label the typical features of a long bone
3. Compare and contrast the histology of compact
versus spongy bone
4. Describe the process of bone formation and bone
remodeling
5. Label axial and appendicular bones of the skeleton
6. Compare the different types of joints
 Skeletal System
• Composed of many different tissues
–bone, cartilage, epithelium, nerve,
blood forming tissue, adipose, and
dense connective tissue
–each bone is an
• Dynamic and ever-changing
throughout life
• Bone is a type of connective tissue;
cells separated by hard matrix
How Many Bones in the
Adult Human Body?
 Functions of Bones
• Support – body, soft tissue
• Protection – internal organs
• Movement – skeletal muscle
• Storage - minerals / fat
• Blood cell formation -

p. 170
Structure of Bone
(Typical Long Bone)

p. 170
Proximal epiphysis
Metaphysis

Diaphysis (shaft)

Metaphysis
Distal epiphysis
 articular cartilage
epiphyseal line (smooth surface to
(old site of growth) minimize friction when
using joint)
spongy bone medullary cavity
(contains red marrow)
(contains yellow marrow)
compact bone
nutrient artery
endosteum
(membrane between
compact bone and periosteum
cavity) (fibrous connective tissue)

Red marrow = Yellow marrow =

blood cell formation fat storage
Structure of Bone
A long bone consists of several parts:
 Diaphysis (bone shaft)
 2 epiphyses (both ends of the bone at the joints)
 2 metaphyses (region between diaphysis and
epiphysis)
 Articular cartilage covering both epiphyses
 Periosteum (dense connective tissue surrounding
the diaphysis)
 Medullary cavity (hollow space within diaphysis)
 Endosteum (thin membrane lining the medulary
cavity)

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Histology of Bone

p. 171
 Bone cells
four types:

osteoblast
osteoprogenitor osteoclast
cell

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Osteoprogenitor Cells
• Undifferentiated cells
• Found beneath periosteum,
within the endosteum
• Divide to replace themselves
(only bone cells able to divide)
OR
• Can  osteoblasts
 Osteoblasts
• Synthesize and secrete
collagen fibers and
components to build
matrix
• Initiate calcification
Osteoblast producing pre-bone
• Become osteocytes
(mature bone cells)
when surrounded by
matrix
Osteoblasts
Osteoclasts
• Large cells formed from
fused
(type of white blood cell)
• Localized in endosteum
• Secrete enzymes that
dissolve bone matrix
(bone resorption)
• Function in bone growth,
repair, remodeling
Osteoclasts
Anatomy of Bone
 spongy bone compact bone

Red bone
marrow within
spongy bone
Spongy bone

Compact bone
 Compact Bone
• Solid hard layer of bone
• Forms shaft of long
bones, external surface of
all bones
• Resists stress produced
by weight and movement
• Composed of
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 Compactosteon
(osteocytes)
Bone - parallel with
diaphysis
cells

medullary
cavity
external
surface
compact bone
periosteum
 Compactosteon
Bone
Lamellae
(rings)

Perforating
Central (Volkmann’s)
(Haversian)
canals
canal
• Concentric rings (lamellae) of calcified
matrix surrounding a central canal
contains blood vessels and nerves
Osteon (Haversian System)
Osteon (Haversian System)
lacuna -filled with ECF

canaliculus
- filled with ECF
osteocyte and osteocyte
processes

compact
bone matrix

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Spongy Bone
• Found within compact
bone
• Latticework of thin
plates of bone
(trabeculae)
- no osteons
• Filled with or
yellow marrow
 Spongy Bone
lacuna
lamellae
canaliculi

osteoclast
osteocyte
Trabeculae osteoblasts
 Bones Containing Red
Marrow in Adults
• Flat bones:
cranial bones
pelvis
ribs
sternum
femur
humerus
Bone Formation
and Remodeling

p. 176
 Bone Formation
• Ossification (osteogenesis) is the process
of bone formation
• Ossification takes place in 2 forms:
• Intramembranous is simpler, forms in
sheets within embryonic tissue
(primarily flat bones of skull)
• replaces cartilage that
was formed first (most bones of the body)
 Which typeOssification
Endochondral is this?
• Endochondral
ossification also
occurs in epiphyseal
plates of long bones
as they grow in
length

Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Bone Remodeling
Bone Remodeling in Adults
WHY?
• New bone is more fracture resistant
• Stress on bone increases mass (thus
bone gets stronger – ie lifting weights)
• Lack of stress decreases mass (atrophy)
• High blood calcium increases mass
• Low blood calcium decreases mass
• Repair of fracture
Skeleton
 Types of Bones: Shape
• Almost all bones are
classified into 5 main
types based on shape:
– Long (greater seed length
than width
– Short (cube shaped)
– Flat (thin layers of parallel
plates)
– Irregular (complex shapes)
– Sesamoid (shaped like a
sesame seed )
Socrative Time!
Room Name: XYJNTNM
Appendicular Axial Skeleton
Skeleton
1. skull
2. spinal column
1. upper limb
3. thoracic cage
2. pelvic girdle

3. lower limb
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Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
1. The Skull
• Protects brain

8 cranial bones

14 facial bones
 P
sagittal suture

squamous
suture

coronal suture

Which bones are separated by each suture?

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A
 sagittal suture

lambdoid suture
Posterior View
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Note the change in proportions as we grow. Initially our head size is very large
compared to the rest of the body.
 Fetal Sutures
• Gaps between the flat
bones consist of
fibrous membranes
 Fontanels
• Areas of the fetal skull where
ossification is incomplete, also
known as “soft spots”
• Several found around the skull,
anterior and posterior are the largest
• Allow compression during
childbirth
• Heal over by 2 years
 Fontanels
– areas where unossified embryonic tissue
develops into dense connective tissue
Hyoid Bone
• in the human
body not directly
connected to another
bone (free-floating)
• Suspended in the
midneck region,
anchored by ligaments
• Supports the tongue and
attaches to neck muscles
(for swallowing)
2. Vertebral Column
Functions:
• support (skull)
• flexibility
• protection of spinal
cord
• attachment for
muscles (movement)
 Vertebral Column
• Consists of vertebrae
• 5 vertebral regions:
– cervical vertebrae (7) in
the neck
– thoracic vertebrae ( 12 ) in
the thorax
– lumbar vertebrae ( 5 ) in
the low back region
– sacrum (5, fused to make 1)
– coccyx (4, fused to make 1)
Fetal Skeleton
Spinal Curvatures
• Secondary curves
– cervical forms when infant
raises head (4 months)
– lumbar forms when infant
sits up, begins to walk
(1 year)
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Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intervertebral Discs
 Located between the bodies of the vertebrae
from the second cervical to the sacrum
 Composed of cartilage and some elastic
tissue, forming a strong joint with the bone
 Permit movement,
absorb shock and
separate the
vertebrae from
one another

Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Cervical Vertebrae
“atlas” – no body
or spinous process

“axis” – minor
body and
processes
 Thoracic Vertebrae
 Support the ribs
 Lumbar Vertebrae
 Largest and strongest
 Sacrum and Coccyx
 The triangular-shaped sacrum is part of the
pelvic girdle and is composed of 5 fused
vertebrae
 The coccyx is much smaller but is also triangular
and is composed of 4 vertebrae that fuse
3. The Thorax
 The Thorax
• Houses and protects internal organs
– heart, lungs, major blood vessels
• Moves to achieve breathing
• Consists of:
– sternum
– ribs
– thoracic vertebrae
 True ribs
Sternum 1-7
- Attach directly
to sternum
through
cartilage

False ribs
8-10
- Attachment of - Attach indirectly
some abdominal to sternum
muscles through
cartilage (#7)

Floating ribs 11-12 - Do not attach to sternum

Appendicular
Skeleton
 Appendicular Skeleton
• Primarily involved bones
in body movements
upper limb

pelvic girdle

lower limb

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 Pelvic Girdle
ilium

sacrum
os coxa
(ilium, ischium, pubis)

ischium symphysis pubis

pubis
• pelvis = sacrum, coccyx, 2 os coxae
Pelvis