The Msculo-skeletal System

Question 1

Identify the major bones of the body

Answer 1

5 types of bones
Flat bones: sternum, frontal bone
Irregular bones: vertebrae, mandible
Short: carpels, tarsals
Long: femur, tibia, fibula
Sesamoid: patella

Question 2

Describe the structure and functions of bone

Answer 2

All bones contain 2 types of tissue: compact and spongy
Compact is dense and strong
Spongy fills the bone interior
Bones are wrapped in a tough, protective outer membrane
Functions:
Providing structural framework
Giving attachment to muscles and tendons
Allowing movement of the body as a while and of parts of the body e.g. joints
Haemopoiesis (blood cell production)- red bone marrow
Mineral storage

Question 3

Discuss the development and growth of bone

Answer 3

Development of bone tissue begins before birth but is not complete until about the 21st year of life
Long, short and irregular bones develop in the fetus from rods of cartilage
Flat bones develop from membrane models, and sesamoid bones from tendon models
Osteoblasts gradually deposit calcium and phosphate slats, calcifying it and converting it to the hard, rigid structure of mature bone
Growth hormone and the thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) are especially important in the regulation of bone growth

Question 4

Describe the structure and functions of the vertebral column

Answer 4

It is the central axis of the body, providing direct and indirect support for the entire Skelton and skeletal muscles that move it
It contains 26 interlocking bones stacked on top of one another, and encloses the vertebral canal, through which the spinal cord depends from the brain