COMPONENTS OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

The core frame of your body is the skeletal system. Bones and connective tissue, similar as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, make up the structure. It’s also known as the musculoskeletal system.

ANATOMY OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM:

The skeletal system is a complex of interconnected elements that help you move. The most notable feature of your skeletal system is your bones, which are hard pieces that create your body’s framework – the skeleton. There are a total of 206 bones in a mature human skeleton. There are three layers to each bone:

• The periosteum is a strong membrane that protects and covers the outside of bone.
• Under the periosteum, the compact bone is white, hard, and smooth. It safeguards and supports the building’s structural integrity.
• In comparison to dense bone, spongy bone has a softer core and inner layer. Pores in the bone marrow store the marrow.

The following are the additional parts of your skeletal system:

Cartilage is a flexible, smooth tissue which covers the joints between your bones. It allows bones to move freely without causing friction (rubbing against each other). When cartilage wears down, as in arthritis, it can be painful and cause movement problems. 

The location where two or more bones in the body contact is referred to as a joint. Joints are divided into three categories. The many types of joints are as follows: 

Joints that cannot be moved: Immovable joints, such as the joints between your skull bones, prevent the bones from moving at all.

• Joints that are only partially movable: These joints have a limited range of motion. Your rib cage joints are partially moveable joints.
• Joints that move: Joints that move provide for a full range of motion. Your elbow, shoulder, & knee are all movable joints.
• Ligaments are strong connective tissue bands that link bones.
• Tendons are tissue bands that link the ends of your muscles to your bones.

DISORDERS:

The bones, joints, & tissues which constitute the skeletal system can be affected by a variety of disorders. Some of them are caused by disease or injury. Others develop as you age as a consequence of normal wear and tear. A few of the disorders that may have an impact on the skeletal system include:

• Arthritis is a painful wearing down of joints caused by age, injury, and medical diseases such as Lyme disease.
• Fracture: A bone can be stressed by disease, tumours, or trauma, eventually breaking.
• Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that causes tumours that can weaken and break bones.
• Osteoporosis is a disorder in which a shortage of calcium promotes bone loss, resulting in fragile and brittle bones.
• Connective tissue sprains and tears can be caused by age, disease, or trauma.

HOW TO KEEP SKELETAL SYSTEM HEALTHY?

• To maintain your skeletal system healthy and strong, make sure you get enough vitamin D & calcium in daily diet (milk, yoghurt, or almonds are good choices).
• Drink plenty of water to keep your tissues healthy.
• Exercise regularly to maintain your bones and joints in good shape.
• Maintain a healthy weight to avoid putting undue strain on your bones and cartilage.
• When engaging in contact sports such as football or hockey, wear protective equipment.
• Take care not to fall down the stairs.

WHAT OCCURS WHEN A BONE IS BROKEN?

The way the bone fractures will affect how your healthcare provider classifies a fracture. The following are examples of fractures:

• The ends of shattered bones line up in a stable (closed) position.
• Overuse generates a crack in the bone, which is known as a stress fracture
• The damaged bone shatters the skin (compound).
• If you break a bone, your doctor will need to do an X-ray to determine the type of fracture. You’ll need to immobilise it (keep it from twisting) in a plaster or brace for three to eight weeks, based on the intensity of the break. It can take months for broken bones to recover entirely.

AXIAL SKELETAL SYSTEM:

In a mature human body, there are 206 bones. Your appendicular skeleton and your axial skeleton are the two primary sections of your skeleton. The bones along your vertical axis make up your axial skeleton. The word “axel” is derived from the word “axis,” which means “line.” Your bones are aligned along your body’s central core.

PARTS OF AXIAL SKELETAL SYSTEM:

The bones of your skull, ossicles (little bones) of your middle ear, hyoid bone of your neck, vertebra (bones of your spine), and thoracic cage make up your axial skeleton (ribcage).

SKULL:

8 cranial bones and fourteen facial bones make up your skull. The top and rear of your skull are made up of cranial bones, which protect and support your brain. The eight skull bones are as follows:

• There are 2 parietal bones (left and right).
• There are 2 temporal bones (left and right).
• There is only one frontal bone.
• There is only one occipital bone.
• There is only one ethmoid bone.
• There is only one sphenoid bone.

The face of your skull is made up of facial bones that form an entryway to your body. Two maxilla bones are among the 14-face bones (left and right).

• There are 2 zygomatic bones (left and right).
• There is only one mandible bone.
• There are 2 nasal bones (left and right).
• There are 2 palatine bones (left and right).
• There are 2 nasal concha bones (left and right).
• There are 2 lacrimal bones (left and right).
• There is only one vomer bone.

EARS:

Your middle ear’s auditory ossicles (small bones) are indeed the smallest bones in your body. Vibrations go from the eardrum to the inner ear via these tiny bones. 

• Two malleus bones make up the middle ear bones (one in each ear).
• There are 2 incus bones (one in each ear).
• There are 2 stapes bones (one in each ear).

NECK:

The horseshoe-shaped hyoid bone is positioned at the front of the neck. It is held in position between the jaw bone and thyroid by muscles and ligaments. The hyoid bone aids in breathing, speaking, and swallowing.

BACK:

The vertebral column, also known as the spine, is made up of 24 vertebrae including your sacrum and tailbone (coccyx). From the base of the skull to your pelvis, the vertebral column runs. It’s divided into five parts:

• The cervical vertebrae are the seven bones that make up your neck and provide support for your head.
• The thoracic vertebrae are the 12 bones that make up the backbone of your ribcage.
• The five lumbar vertebrae support the majority of your body’s weight and connect to the back muscles.
• The sacrum is a triangle bone in the back of your pelvis that forms the back wall.
• Tailbone (coccyx): The coccyx is located at the base of the spine & connects to a number of muscles throughout your body.

RIBCAGE:

The thoracic cage, often known as the ribcage, is a protective structure that surrounds your heart, lungs, and other vital organs. It connects to the muscles that control respiration and arm movement. Your ribcage contains the following bones:

• The sternum (breastbone) is a long, flat bone running along the centre of your chest.
• The average person has 12 pairings of ribs.

WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM?

The skeletal system serves a variety of purposes. It not only gives us the mortal shape & traits, but it also:

• Allows movement: The bones sustain your body weight and let you stand and move. The coordination of joints, connective tissue, plus muscles allows your bodily elements to move.
• Bone marrow is indeed a form of marrow that is responsible for the production of blood cells. The bone marrow is where red & white blood cells are produced.
• Your skull protects your brain, while your ribs protect your heart and lungs, and your backbone protects your spine.
• Mineral storage: Minerals including such calcium & vitamin D are stored in your bones for your body’s use.

CONCLUSION:

Not just to bones, but also cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues are all part of the skeletal system.The skeleton’s more visible functions include structural support, movement, and organ protection. The bones create a variety of blood cells plus retain minerals, especially calcium, which can be freed and utilised somewhere else in the body.Nutrients are delivered to this system by blood arteries located within bone canals. Minerals and lipids are stored in the skeletal system, which also creates blood cells. It also allows for mobility. Tendons, bones, joints, ligaments, & muscles all work together to provide a variety of movements.