Skeletal System

Question 1

What are the different types of bones and their functions?

Answer 1

Flat = protects internal organs.

Long = supports weight and allows movement.

Irregular = variable nature helps protect different structures

Short = provide stability and some movement.

Question 2

What is the axial skeleton?

Answer 2

Consists of the bones that lie around the central axis of the body

Question 3

What is the function of the axial skeleton?

Answer 3

It provides the main support for erect posture and protection of the central nervous system and the organs contained within the thorax.

Question 4

What is the axial skeleton made up of?

Answer 4

Made up of the bones that form the skull, vertebral column, rubs and sternum.

Question 5

What is the appendicular skeleton made up of?

Answer 5

Consists of the bones of the upper and lower limbs, the pectoral girdle (shoulder) and pelvic girdle (hip).

Question 6

What is the function of the two girdles?

Answer 6

These two girdles allow for the articulation of the limbs with the axial skeleton.

Question 7

What is cartilage?

Answer 7

A type of connective tissue containing fibres of collagen

Question 8

What are the types of cartilage?

Answer 8

Cartilage may be either hyaline, elastic or fibrocartilage.

Question 9

What is the function of different types of cartilage?

Answer 9

The variation in the structure of each result in variations in strength, flexibility and elasticity.

Question 10

What are the functions of the skeletal framework?

Answer 10

1. Provides a Scaffold to Support the Weight of The Body
2. Facilitates Movement by Being Attachment Points for Muscles
3. Protects Vital Internal Organs
4. Produces RBCs
5. Stores & Releases Minerals & Fats

Question 11

How does the skeleton facilitate movement?

Answer 11

When muscles contract, they allow movement to take place.

Where bones meet so that they can move relative to one another, they are said to articulate.

Question 12

What is the function of articulation?

Answer 12

Articulation allows varying degrees of moment, depending on the bones involved, so the skeleton determines the extent of movement of body parts.

Question 13

How does the skeleton protect vital internal organs?

Answer 13

• Brain is encased within the cranium.
• Spinal cord is contained within the spinal canal formed by the vertebrae.
• Heart and lungs are protected by the rib cage
• Pelvis protects the internal reproductive organs and bladder.

Question 14

How does the skeleton produce RBCs?

Answer 14

The red marrow contained within certain bones contains stem cells that can differentiate into blood cells.

Factors in cell’s environment determine whether they become RBCs, WBCs, or platelets.

Question 15

How does the skeleton store minerals and fats?

Answer 15

The bones of the skeleton acts as storage organs for mineral salts and fat.

Calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium are the main minerals store within the bone.

Question 16

Where are stored minerals and fats released?

Answer 16

They can be distributed to other regions of the body by the circulatory system where required.

Question 17

What happens to a pregnant women if her diet is lacking in calcium?

Answer 17

It can be removed from her skeleton and used for the growth of the bones in the developing foetus.

Question 18

What does the long bone consist of?

Answer 18

The long bone consists of the diaphysis, epiphyses, and periosteum.

Question 19

What is the diaphysis?

Answer 19

the shaft making up main portion of the bone.

When bone is cut lengthwise the diaphysis is seen to be a hollow cylinder of compact bone surrounding the yellow bone marrow cavity used as a fat storage site

Question 20

What is the epiphyses?

Answer 20

The epiphyses are the enlarged ends of the bone, covered with a thin layer of articular cartilage

Question 21

Describe the structure of the epiphyses

Answer 21

The epiphyses have compact bone on the outside, but their central regions contain spongy bone

In certain bones this may be red bone marrow, where blood cell production takes place

Question 22

What is the periosteum?

Answer 22

The periosteum is the dense, white, fibrous outer covering of the bone.

There is no periosteum at the joints, where the bone is covered with an articular cartilage.

Question 23

What does compact bone consist of?

Answer 23

Many osteons or Haversian systems that run parallel to the long axis of the bone.

This gives the bone its maximum strength

Question 24

Describe the structure of osteons

Answer 24

• A central canal at its centre.
• Concentric layers of bony matrix called lamellae surrounding the central canal.
• Lacunae, which are small spaces in the matrix between the lamellae.
• A bone cells, or osteocyte, occupying each lacuna.
• Tiny canals, known as canaliculi, running between lacunae.
• Contain projections from bone cells entering canaliculi and contacting adjacent bone cells, allowing materials to be passed from cell to cell.
• One blood capillary, and possibly nerves and lymph capillaries, in the central canal of each osteons.

Question 25

Describe the structure of spongy bone

Answer 25

- Consists of an irregular arrangement of thin, bony plates called trabeculae - Not organised in concentric layers of lamellae. - The osteocytes occupy spaces in the trabeculae - Nerves and blood vessels pass through irregular spaces in the matrix.

Question 26

How are the protein fibres in collagen organised?

Answer 26

These protein fibres are embedded in a matrix of a protein-carbohydrate complex called chondrin.

Question 27

What is the function of chondrin?

Answer 27

This firm matrix enables cartilage to function as structure support, while the presence of fibres gives cartilage a certain amount of flexibility.

Question 28

Where is cartilage located?

Answer 28

It is found on the surface of bones at the joint, in the trachea and bronchi and forms the nose, larynx and outer ear.

Question 29

What is hyaline cartilage?

Answer 29

Contains many closely packed collagenous fibres throughout the matrix.

Question 30

Describe the structure & function of hyaline cartilage

Answer 30

These fibres are so fine, they are not distinguishable under a light microscope. They give the cartilage strength and flexibility.

Question 31

Where is hyaline cartilage located?

Answer 31

Makes up the rings of the trachea and bronchi Found in articular cartilage at the ends of bones, where two bones meet to form a movable joint.

Question 32

Describe the structure of elastic cartilage

Answer 32

Has visible elastic fibres. It also contains collagenous fibres like those in hyaline cartilage, but they are not so closely packed

Question 33

Describe the function of elastic cartilage

Answer 33

Elastic cartilage provides flexible elastic support in places such as the external ear.

Question 34

Describe the structure of fibrocartilage

Answer 34

Has a course appearance from the parallel bundles of thick collagenous fibres that make up this tissue. Fibres not compacted as much as in hyaline cartilage and therefore can be compressed slightly

Question 35

What is the function of fibrocartilage?

Answer 35

Compressed fibres is ideal of regions where the weight of the body is being supported where there is need to withstand heavy pressure.

Question 36

Where is fibrocartilage located?

Answer 36

Found in intervertebral discs of spinal column, where is provides a cushion between the vertebrae. In meniscus of knee joint In the tissue joining the two sides of the pelvis.