The Skeleton
Our human skeleton is a clever construction of 206 different bones, which you may recall is composed of mineralized calcium phosphate that is unseen into the extracellular atmosphere by bone cells called osteocytes. Bones are hard and inflexible, witch makes the most basic function of the skeletal system easy; to support and provide structure for the body. Without our skeletal systems, we wouldn't be able to hold our shape, and we definitely would not be able to stand upright.
Major Functions
Our skeleton serves four major functions;
Support
1. The skeleton provides the framework which supports the body and maintains its shape. The pelvis, associated ligaments and muscles provide a floor for the pelvic structures. Without the rib cages, costal cartilages, and intercostal muscles, the heart would collapse. Movement
2. The joints between bones permit movement, some allowing a wider range of movement than others, e.g. the ball and socket joint allows a greater range of movement than the pivot joint at the neck. Movement is powered by skeletal muscles, which are attached to the skeleton at various sites on bones. Muscles, bones, and joints provide the principal mechanics for movement, all coordinated by the nervous system.
Protection
3. The skeleton protects many vital organs:
- The skull protects the brain, the eyes, and the middle and inner ears.
- The vertebrae protect the spinal cord.
- The rib cage, spine, and sternum protect the human lungs, human heart and major blood vessels.
- The clavicle and scapula protect the shoulder.
- The ilium and spine protect the digestive and urogenital systems and the hip.
- The patella and the ulna protect the knee and the elbow respectively.
- The carpals and tarsals protect the wrist and ankle respectively.
Storage
4. Bone matrix (fundamental functional unit of much compact bone) can store calcium and is involved in calcium metabolism, and bone marrow can store iron in ferrotin (a protein in the body that binds to iron) and is involved in iron metabolism. However, bones are not entirely made of calcium, but a mixture of chondroitin sulfate and hydroxyapatite, the latter making up 70% of a bone.
Components of the Skeleton
Our human skeleton is composed of three main components; Bones, Associated cartilages and Joints.
Bones
Bone is a tough and rigid form of connective tissue. It is the weight bearing organ of human body and it is responsible for almost all strength of human skeleton. From our head to our toes, bones provide support for our bodies and help form our shape. The skull protects the brain and forms the shape of our face. The spinal cord, a pathway for messages between the brain and the body, is protected by the backbone, or spinal column.
Cartilages
Cartilage is also a form of connective tissue but is not as tough and rigid as bone. The main difference in the cartilage and bone is the mineralization factor. Bones are highly mineralized with calcium salts while cartilages are not, making bones inflexible and firm and cartilage softer and bendable. The most obvious use of cartilage in the body is as a shock absorber and cushioning and relieving the stress associated with the weight you put on your knee and other joints.
Joints
Joints are important components of human skeleton because they make the human skeleton mobile. Joints occur where two bones meet. They make the skeleton flexible — without them, movement would be impossible. Joints allow our bodies to move in many ways. Some joints open and close like a hinge (such as knees and elbows), whereas others allow for more complicated movement — a shoulder or hip joint, for example, allows for backward, forward, sideways, and rotating movement.
Bones
Bone is a tough and rigid form of connective tissue. It is the weight bearing organ of human body and it is responsible for almost all strength of human skeleton. From our head to our toes, bones provide support for our bodies and help form our shape. The skull protects the brain and forms the shape of our face. The spinal cord, a pathway for messages between the brain and the body, is protected by the backbone, or spinal column.
Cartilages
Cartilage is also a form of connective tissue but is not as tough and rigid as bone. The main difference in the cartilage and bone is the mineralization factor. Bones are highly mineralized with calcium salts while cartilages are not, making bones inflexible and firm and cartilage softer and bendable. The most obvious use of cartilage in the body is as a shock absorber and cushioning and relieving the stress associated with the weight you put on your knee and other joints.
Joints
Joints are important components of human skeleton because they make the human skeleton mobile. Joints occur where two bones meet. They make the skeleton flexible — without them, movement would be impossible. Joints allow our bodies to move in many ways. Some joints open and close like a hinge (such as knees and elbows), whereas others allow for more complicated movement — a shoulder or hip joint, for example, allows for backward, forward, sideways, and rotating movement.