Locomotor System – I

Skeletal component
Dr Hafsa Zaneb
LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this lecture, the students will be able to

1. Relate chemical composition of bone to its biomechanical

properties
2. Relate the structure of bone to its strength
3. Classify bones according to
1. Location
2. Shape/ appearance / size
3. Matrix arrangement
 LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM
Skeleton Muscles
Bones
Cartilages
Ligaments
Joints

Constitutes the passive part of the Constitutes the active part of the
locomotor system locomotor system

Functional unit complemented by the nervous, circulatory and

endocrine systems
FUNCTIONS OF BONES

1. Support Example?

2. Protection Example?

3. Movement Bone as levers. Example?

4. Metabolic support Hematopoiesis and mineral reservoir.

Which minerals?
 What determines the biochemical properties of bone tissue?
Stiffness, Compressive strength, Flexibility, Tensile strength

Bone mineral – 65%

What contributes to the stiffness Calcium phosphate (85-90%)
and compressive strength in bone? Calcium carbonate (8-10%)
Magnesium phosphate (1.5 %)
Calcium fluoride (0.3 %)

Organic Ground Substance – 35%

What contributes to the flexibility
and tensile strength in bone?
Type I collagen fibres (90 %)
Glycosaminoglycans
Proteoglycans
Chondroitin-4-sulphate
Chondroitin-6- sulphate and
Keratin sulphate

LO: Relate chemical composition of bone to its biomechanical properties

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BONE

Fresh dead bone - Yellowish-white

Macerated or boiled and bleached - White
Specific gravity of fresh compact bone - 1.93
Tensile strength - Nearly twice that of oak
 What else determines the strength of a bone?

Water content – 25% of wt

Bone porosity (amount of bone volume filled with pores)

Effect of porosity on strength?

Low porosity bone (Cortical bone) High porosity bone (Trabecular bone)
Compact mineralized Less compact
Forms the shaft of long bone & Forms extremities of long bone &
Outer layer of all bones Core of all other bones

Withstands greater stress but less Withstands greater strain before

strain fracturing

LO: Relate structure and distribution of different bone forms with their strength
COMPACT / CORTICAL BONE
COMPACT / CORTICAL BONE
Collagen fibres arranged in parallel and concentric Haversian Lamellae
Outer and Inner circumferential lamellae covered by periosteum and endosteum,
respectively
Composed of cylindrical units  Osteons (Haversian system)

OSTEON
• A central vascular channel (Haversian canal) 
• Bone cells are located between the H lamellae
• The Haversian or nutrient canals communicate
with the marrow cavity and the external surface
via transverse channels, Volkmann canals
SPONGY / TRABECULAR BONE
 SPONGY BONE

• Consists of delicate intercrossing bony plates

and spicules
• The intervals (marrow spaces) between the
plates are occupied by marrow and lined by
endosteum

• Forms the bulk of short/irregular bones and

of the extremities and inner aspect of shafts
of long bones, diploe of flat bones

PNEUMATIC BONES contain air-spaces or

sinuses within the compact substance instead of
spongy bone and marrow.

LO: Relate structure and distribution of different bone forms with their strength
 How are bones classified according to their location?
(1) Axial - vertebral column, ribs, sternum, and skull
(2) Appendicular - bones of the limbs
(3) Splanchnic - bones developed in the substance of viscera / soft tissues
LO: Classify bones according to location

Factors causing variation in the number of bones of skeleton

Age  Fusion during growth of skeletal elements
Individual variations  within normal range
What causes the bones to be different in shape and appearance?

• Function – Movement, protection, shock absorbance

• Genetic determination
• Static and dynamic influences
• Muscle or tendon attachment s on bones cause the
development of processes, tubercles, crests, spines, roughened
surfaces, depressions or notches.
• Blood vessels, nerves or organs contour the surface of bone
(groove)
 How are bones classified according to their shape / size?

LONG BONES

• Characterised by a shaft or
body (diaphysis), a proximal
and distal end (epiphysis) and
a growth plate (metaphysis).
• Diaphysis encloses the central
medullary cavity.

• Long bones are typical in the limbs

• Shaft is lined by periosteum and endosteum on the outside
and inside, respectively
• Epiphysis consists of core of cancellous or spongy bone
covered by cortical bone
• Diaphysis consists of cortical bone collar
 How are bones classified according to their shape / size?

FLAT BONES
Core of spongy bone or air-filled sinus sandwiched

LO: Classify bones according to shape / size

between two layers of compact bone
e.g. scapula, skull bones

SHORT BONES
Cylindrical, cuboid, or spheroid
Core of spongy bone + marrow spaces covered with compact bone
e.g. carpals, tarsals, vertebrae (Irregular bones)

SESAMOID BONES
Develop in the muscles / tendons
e.g. patella
How are bones classified according to their matrix arrangement?

LO: Classify bones according to matrix arrangement

Lamellar bone – mature bone

• Spongy bone - Collagen lamellae arranged parallel to each other

• Compact bone - Lamellae are organized concentrically around
Haversian canal

Woven bone – immature bone

• Collagen fibers are arranged in irregular arrays

• Smaller amounts of mineral substance
• Higher proportion of osteocytes to lamellar component

Woven bone is eventually converted to lamellar bone

 Is bone a living tissue?
Grows
Repairs
Metabolically active

Vascular supply
Long bones:
Diaphyseal nutrient artery
Metaphyseal and epiphyseal arteries - anastomose with the diaphyseal vessels
Periosteal arterioles

Large irregular bones, short bones and flat bones:

Superficial periosteal arterioles

Venous and lymphatic drainage:

Veins and lymphatic vessels accompany arteries

Nerve supply
Nerves accompany the blood vessels + Periosteal sensory
Sample Questions

1. How will decrease in collagen component of bone affect its tensile strength?
2. The most abundant mineral component in bone tissue is __________
3. ___________ is the most abundant organic component of bone
4. Draw a labelled image of cross section of a Compact/Lamellar / Cortical bone.
5. Where is the spongy bone distributed in the body, and what roles are associated
with it?
6. Describe 3 divisions of skeleton with 4 examples each
7. Classify bones according to shape / appearance
8. Define Epiphysis, Metaphysis, Diaphysis, Periosteum, Endosteum etc.