SKELETAL SYSTEM

BY: SAM SOVANNITA

• The skeletal system in an adult body is made up of 206 individual bones. These bones are arranged into two
major divisions: the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton runs along the body’s
midline axis and is made up of 80 bones in the following regions:
THE SKULL

• The skull is composed of 22 bones that are fused together except for the mandible. These 21
fused bones are separate in children to allow the skull and brain to grow, but fuse to give added
strength and protection as an adult. The mandible remains as a movable jaw bone and forms the
only movable joint in the skull with the temporal bone.
• The bones of the superior portion of the skull are known as the cranium and protect the brain
from damage. The bones of the inferior and anterior portion of the skull are known as facial bones
and support the eyes, nose, and mouth.
HYOID AND AUDITORY OSSICLES

• The hyoid is a small, U-shaped bone found just inferior to the mandible. The hyoid is
the only bone in the body that does not form a joint with any other bone—it is a
floating bone. The hyoid’s function is to help hold the trachea open and to form a
bony connection for the tongue muscles.
• The malleus, incus, and stapes—known collectively as the auditory ossicles—are the smallest
bones in the body. Found in a small cavity inside of the temporal bone, they serve to transmit
and amplify sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.
VERTEBRAE

• Twenty-six vertebrae form the vertebral

column of the human body. They are
named by region:Cervical (neck) - 7
vertebraeThoracic (chest) - 12
vertebraeLumbar (lower back) - 5
vertebraeSacrum - 1 vertebraCoccyx
(tailbone) - 1 vertebraWith the exception
of the singular sacrum and coccyx, each
vertebra is named for the first letter of its
region and its position along the superior-
inferior axis. For example, the most
superior thoracic vertebra is called T1 and
the most inferior is called T12.
RIBS AND STERNUM

• The sternum, or breastbone, is a thin, knife-shaped bone located along the midline of the anterior
side of the thoracic region of the skeleton. The sternum connects to the ribs by thin bands of
cartilage called the costal cartilage.There are 12 pairs of ribs that together with the sternum form
the ribcage of the thoracic region. The first seven ribs are known as “true ribs” because they
connect the thoracic vertebrae directly to the sternum through their own band of costal
cartilage. Ribs 8, 9, and 10 all connect to the sternum through cartilage that is connected to the
cartilage of the seventh rib, so we consider these to be “false ribs.” Ribs 11 and 12 are also false
ribs, but are also considered to be “floating ribs” because they do not have any cartilage
attachment to the sternum at all.
PECTORAL GIRDLE AND UPPER LIMB

• The pectoral girdle connects the upper limb (arm) bones to the axial skeleton and consists of the
left and right clavicles and left and right scapulae.The humerus is the bone of the upper arm. It
forms the ball and socket joint of the shoulder with the scapula and forms the elbow joint with
the lower arm bones. The radius and ulna are the two bones of the forearm. The ulna is on the
medial side of the forearm and forms a hinge joint with the humerus at the elbow. The radius
allows the forearm and hand to turn over at the wrist joint.
• The lower arm bones form the wrist joint with the carpals, a group of eight small bones that give
added flexibility to the wrist. The carpals are connected to the five metacarpals that form the
bones of the hand and connect to each of the fingers. Each finger has three bones known as
phalanges, except for the thumb, which only has two phalanges.
 PELVIC GIRDLE AND LOWER LIMB

• Formed by the left and right hip bones, the pelvic girdle connects the lower limb (leg) bones to
the axial skeleton.The femur is the largest bone in the body and the only bone of the thigh
(femoral) region. The femur forms the ball and socket hip joint with the hip bone and forms the
knee joint with the tibia and patella. Commonly called the kneecap, the patella is special because
it is one of the few bones that are not present at birth. The patella forms in early childhood to
support the knee for walking and crawling.
• The tibia and fibula are the bones of the lower leg. The tibia is much larger than the fibula and
bears almost all of the body’s weight. The fibula is mainly a muscle attachment point and is used to
help maintain balance. The tibia and fibula form the ankle joint with the talus, one of the seven
tarsal bones in the foot.
• The tarsals are a group of seven small bones that form the posterior end of the foot and heel. The
tarsals form joints with the five long metatarsals of the foot. Then each of the metatarsals forms a
joint with one of the set of phalanges in the toes. Each toe has three phalanges, except for the big
toe, which only has two phalanges.
MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF BONES

• The skeleton makes up about 30-40% of an adult’s body mass. The skeleton’s mass is made up of
nonliving bone matrix and many tiny bone cells. Roughly half of the bone matrix’s mass is water,
while the other half is collagen protein and solid crystals of calcium carbonate and calcium
phosphate.
• Living bone cells are found on the edges of bones and in small cavities inside of the bone matrix.
Although these cells make up very little of the total bone mass, they have several very important
roles in the functions of the skeletal system. The bone cells allow bones to:Grow and developBe
repaired following an injury or daily wearBe broken down to release their stored minerals