The Skeletal System Flashcards
How many bones make up the human skeleton?
206 bones
What are the functions of the skeleton?
Support, protection, movement, blood production, mineral storage
How does the skeleton provide support?
It provides a rigid framework to the body, giving it shape and providing suitable sites for attachment of muscle
How does the skeleton provide protection?
It provides protection for the internal organs
What are examples of how the body provides protection?
- The vertebral column protects the spinal cord
- The cranium protects the brain
- The rib cage protects the heart and lungs
How does the skeleton help with blood production?
Within the bones there is bone marrow, which produces both red and white blood cells
How does the skeleton help with mineral storage?
The bones have storage capabilities for vital minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus
How does the skeleton help with movement?
What is the structure of the skeleton?
The bones are either categorised as a part of the axial or appendicular skeleton
What is the axial skeleton?
It provides the main area of support for the body and includes the cranium, the vertebral column and the rib caage
What is the appendicular skeleton?
How many bones is the vertebral column made up of?
33 bones with 9 fused, 24 unfused and 5 different areas
What are the 5 areas of the vertebral column?
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral vertebrae and the cocyx
What is the cervical vertebrae?
What is the thoracic vertebrae?
What is the lumbar vertebrae?
What is the sacral vertebrae?
- It consists of 5 fused bones
- It is fused to the pelvis and they both bear and distribute the weight of the upper body
What is the coccyx?
- It consists of 4 fused bones
- It forms the base of the vertebral column and acts as a process for muscle attachment
What is the structure of the rib cage?
- It is composed of 12 pairs of ribs, which together form the wall of the thoracic cavity
- The first 7 pairs of ribs attach directly onto the front of the sternum via costal cartilage
- The next 3 pairs of ribs are attached to the 7th ribs also by costal cartilage (these are known as false ribs)
- The remaining 2 pairs do not attach to anything (they are called floating ribs)
What are the functions of the rib cage?
- It offers protection to vital organs, such as the heart and lungs
- It enables the lungs to inflate by moving upwards and outwards during respiration
What are the intercostal muscles?
The intercostal muscles are attached to the ribs, allowing the rib cage to carry out its respiratory duties
What happens when you increase your breathing rate?
What happens when you decrease your breathing rate?
What is the structure of the skull?
What is the structure of the appendicular skeleton?
What are the different types of bones?
Long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid bones
What are long bones?
- They are cylindrical bones that are found in the limbs of the body
- They act as levers and are therefore essential for movement
- They also produce blood cells, which occurs deep inside the bone
What the some examples of long bones?
Femur, tibia, humerus, phalanges
What are short bones?
- These are small and compact and are often equal in length and width
- They can withstand great strengths and weightbearing
What are some examples of short bones?
Carpals and tarsals
What are flat bones?
- These protect the internal organs from damage
- They are also good for muscle attachment as they provide them with a firm, immovable base against, which can be pulled and allows the function to be carried out effectively
What are some examples of flat bones?
Sternum, cranium bones, pelvis bones, rib bones
What are irregular bones?
- They have complex, individual shapes
- They have a variety of functions, including muscle attachment and protection
What are some examples of irregular bones?
Vertebrae and the bones of the face
What are sesamoid bones?
- They ease joint movement and resist friction and compression
- They are developed in tendons and are covered with a layer of articular cartilage as they exist at joints where bones meet
What are some examples of sesamoid bones
Patella
