Week 5 - Skeletal System 2

Question 1

What is a cartilage?

Answer 1

Extracellular matrix
▪ Chondrocytes (cartilage cells), proteoglycans (trap H2O) and fibres
▪ High water content enables it to spring back to its original shape
▪ No calcium, so flexible
▪ Avascular, nutrients diffuse in, heals slowly

Question 2

What are the three types of cartilage?

Answer 2

1. Hyaline (glass) cartilage
2. Elastic cartilage
3. Fibrocartilage

Question 3

What is hyaline cartilage?

Answer 3

Dense, fine collagen fibres, abundant

Question 4

What is elastic cartilage?

Answer 4

Packed with elastin fibres

Question 5

What is fibrocartilage?

Answer 5

Dense, parallel, coarse collagen fibres

Question 6

What is osteogenesis?

Answer 6

• Nutrients
  ▪ Minerals
  ▪ Vitamins (A for osteoblasts, C for collagen, D for Ca2+ etc.
• Hormones (stimulate bone growth)
  ▪ Growth hormone. Thyroxin. Sex hormones

Question 7

What is calcium homeostasis?

Answer 7

• Bone is a metabolically active organ
• Exchanging minerals with extracellular fluid
  ▪ Imbalance of Ca2+ disrupts body functioning
• Calcitriol (vitamin D) – raises Ca2+ by
  ▪ Promoting absorption of Ca2+ through intestinal wall
• Parathyroid hormone – raises Ca2+ by
  ▪ Stimulating osteoclasts
  ▪ Stimulating kidneys to produce calcitriol

Question 8

What are the 2 division of skeleton?

Answer 8

1. Axial skeleton
2. Appendicular skeleton

Question 9

What is axial skeleton?

Answer 9

• Skull
• Vertebral column
  -Thoracic cage

Question 10

What is appendicular skeleton?

Answer 10

Limbs and supporting elements (arms, legs and girdles)