fit for life - skeletal system

Question 1

What is the skeletal system made up of?

Answer 1

The skeletal system is made up of joints and bones.

Question 2

What are bones?

Answer 2

Bones are living organs that help us stand and move.

Question 3

How many bones do you have?

Answer 3

You are normally born with 300 but 94 of them fuse as you get older leaving you with 206.

Question 4

What are the 5 main functions of the skeletal system?

Answer 4

Body movement, support, protection, mineral storage and the production of red blood cells.

Question 5

Body function?

Answer 5

There are over 200 bones in the body which provide sites for muscle attachment. When muscles contract they move the bones they are attached to. Muscles are attached to bones by tendons.

Question 6

Support?

Answer 6

The skeleton supports the body by keeping us upright. Weaknesses in muscles or bones can lead to poor posture.

Question 7

Protection?

Answer 7

Bones protect vital organs such as the heart, lungs,

kidneys and brain.

Question 8

Mineral storage?

Answer 8

Bones store minerals that are essential for good health, such as calcium and sodium. Calcium is important for good bone health and muscle contractions.

Question 9

Production of red blood cells?

Answer 9

Red blood cell production occurs in the cavity of long bones. RBC is important in the transportation of oxygen around the body. The oxygen attaches to haemoglobin in the red blood cells to be transported from the lungs. As we get older the production of red blood cells slows down.

Question 10

Axial skeleton

Answer 10

Consists of the skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum (thorax). It forms the major axis of the body as it is supportive and rigid and also protects many vital organs.

Question 11

Appendicular skeleton

Answer 11

Includes the appendages (limbs) of the body and is used mainly for movement. It’s joined to the axial skeleton by the pelvic and pectoral girdles.

Question 12

What are the types of bones?

Answer 12

Short, long, flat, irregular, sesamoid.

Question 13

Short bone

Answer 13

Cube-shaped, with the same width and length. They are designed for strength and weight-bearing. For example; carpals and tarsals.

Question 14

Long bone

Answer 14

Longer than they are wide. They have a hollow shaft containing marrow. The primary function is to act as levers and therefore essential for movement. For example; tibia, fibula, femur, phalanges.

Question 15

Flat bone

Answer 15

Have large flat areas for muscles to attach and usually protect vital organs. For example; scapula, ribs, sternum.

Question 16

Irregular bone

Answer 16

No regular shape or characteristics. They have a variety of functions which include protection. For example; the pelvis and vertebrae.

Question 17

Sesamoid bone

Answer 17

Bones that are small, surrounded by tendons and located around a joint. Sesamoid bones have a specialised function: They ease joint movement and resist friction and compression. For example; the patella.

Question 18

Factors affecting bone growth

Answer 18

Injury, diet, exercise, disease.

Question 19

Injury

Answer 19

Injuries such as fractures can affect bone growth.

Question 20

Diet

Answer 20

Bones need calcium and phosphorous

Question 21

Excercise

Answer 21

Weight-bearing exercise pulls on bones and

increases bone density.

Question 22

Disease

Answer 22

Osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis.

Question 23

How are joints formed?

Answer 23

Joints are formed when 2 or more bones articulate.

Question 24

How is movement created?

Answer 24

The tendons of muscles usually cross joints and attach to bones to create movement.

Question 25

What are the 3 types of joints?

Answer 25

Fibrous, Cartilaginous and synovial.

Question 26

Fibrous

Answer 26

No movement. E.g. the skull

Question 27

Cartilaginous

Answer 27

Slight movement E.g. Between the ribs

Question 28

Synovial

Answer 28

Freely moveable.

Question 29

What are the 6 synovial joints?

Answer 29

Hinge, Ball and socket, gliding, pivot, condyloid and saddle.

Question 30

Hinge

Answer 30

The hinge joint allows only back-and-forth
movement, such as bending and straightening.
E.g. Knee

Question 31

Ball and socket

Answer 31

The ball and socket joint permits side-to-
side, back-and-forth and rotational movement.
E.g. Hip

Question 32

Gliding

Answer 32

The gliding joint occurs where two bones
with flat surfaces slide over each other,
with their movement restricted by ligaments.
E.g. Carpals/tarsals

Question 33

Pivot

Answer 33

The pivot joint allows rotation only.

E.g. Neck

Question 34

Saddle

Answer 34

Resembles a saddle and is similar to a condyloid joint, however, allows more movement.
E.g. Thumb

Question 35

Condyloid

Answer 35

In condyloid joints, one bone surface is concave, the other is convex.
E.g. Wrist

Question 36

Superior

Answer 36

Closer to the head than another part

Question 37

Inferior

Answer 37

Closer to the feet than another part.

Question 38

Anterior

Answer 38

Towards the front of the body.

Question 39

Posterior

Answer 39

Towards the back of the body.

Question 40

Medial

Answer 40

Towards the imaginary midline of the body