The Skeletal System

Question 1

How many bones make up the human skeleton?

Answer 1

206 bones

Question 2

What are the functions of the skeleton?

Answer 2

Support, protection, movement, blood production, mineral storage

Question 3

How does the skeleton provide support?

Answer 3

It provides a rigid framework to the body, giving it shape and providing suitable sites for attachment of muscle

Question 4

How does the skeleton provide protection?

Answer 4

It provides protection for the internal organs

Question 5

What are examples of how the body provides protection?

Answer 5

1. The vertebral column protects the spinal cord
2. The cranium protects the brain
3. The rib cage protects the heart and lungs

Question 6

How does the skeleton help with blood production?

Answer 6

Within the bones there is bone marrow, which produces both red and white blood cells

Question 7

How does the skeleton help with mineral storage?

Answer 7

The bones have storage capabilities for vital minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus

Question 8

How does the skeleton help with movement?

Question 9

What is the structure of the skeleton?

Answer 9

The bones are either categorised as a part of the axial or appendicular skeleton

Question 10

What is the axial skeleton?

Answer 10

It provides the main area of support for the body and includes the cranium, the vertebral column and the rib caage

Question 11

What is the appendicular skeleton?

Question 12

How many bones is the vertebral column made up of?

Answer 12

33 bones with 9 fused, 24 unfused and 5 different areas

Question 13

What are the 5 areas of the vertebral column?

Answer 13

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral vertebrae and the cocyx

Question 14

What is the cervical vertebrae?

Question 15

What is the thoracic vertebrae?

Question 16

What is the lumbar vertebrae?

Question 17

What is the sacral vertebrae?

Answer 17

• It consists of 5 fused bones
• It is fused to the pelvis and they both bear and distribute the weight of the upper body

Question 18

What is the coccyx?

Answer 18

• It consists of 4 fused bones
• It forms the base of the vertebral column and acts as a process for muscle attachment

Question 19

What is the structure of the rib cage?

Answer 19

• 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)

Question 20

What are the functions of the rib cage?

Answer 20

1. It offers protection to vital organs, such as the heart and lungs
2. It enables the lungs to inflate by moving upwards and outwards during respiration

Question 21

What are the intercostal muscles?

Answer 21

The intercostal muscles are attached to the ribs, allowing the rib cage to carry out its respiratory duties

Question 22

What happens when you increase your breathing rate?

Question 23

What happens when you decrease your breathing rate?

Question 24

What is the structure of the skull?

Question 25

What is the structure of the appendicular skeleton?

Question 26

What are the different types of bones?

Answer 26

Long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid bones

Question 27

What are long bones?

Answer 27

- 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

Question 28

What the some examples of long bones?

Answer 28

Femur, tibia, humerus, phalanges

Question 29

What are short bones?

Answer 29

- These are small and compact and are often equal in length and width - They can withstand great strengths and weightbearing

Question 29

What are some examples of short bones?

Answer 29

Carpals and tarsals

Question 29

What are flat bones?

Answer 29

- 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

Question 29

What are some examples of flat bones?

Answer 29

Sternum, cranium bones, pelvis bones, rib bones

Question 30

What are irregular bones?

Answer 30

- They have complex, individual shapes - They have a variety of functions, including muscle attachment and protection

Question 31

What are some examples of irregular bones?

Answer 31

Vertebrae and the bones of the face

Question 32

What are sesamoid bones?

Answer 32

- 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

Question 33

What are some examples of sesamoid bones

Answer 33

Patella