APPENDICULAR SKELETON

Question 1

What is the skeletal system?

Answer 1

Generally described in two parts, the skeleton consists of the axial skeleton and and the appendicular skeleton

Question 2

What parts of the body does the appendicular skeleton comprise?

Answer 2

Limb bones of the arms and legs and the girdles that connect them to the AXIAL skeleton, and the shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle

Question 3

Explain the functions of the limb bones of the arms and legs and the girdles

Answer 3

• bones of arm (humerus, radius, ulna)
• bones of he leg (femur, tibia, fibula)
  ~ ALL ARE LONG BONES ~
• bones of hands and feet include 14 bones in fingers and toes, 8 in the wrist, 7 in the ankle, 5 in the palm of the hand and sole of the foot
• due to load bearing requirements for lower limbs, the pelvic girdle is joined to the axial skeleton at the sacroiliac joint, which is a relatively rigid joint
• whereas connection of shoulder girdle is far less restricting , being mostly connected by the rib cage by muscle. The only stabilising connection is provided by the COLLAR BONE

Question 4

Talk about the intervertebral disc

Answer 4

• lie between each of the vertebrae
• designed to bear weight and act as a cushion
• the pliable cartilaginous disks unite the stacked column of vertebrae
• this makes them a strong, yet supple complete unit as the backbone