MT: Chapter Four

4.1: Bones of the Skeletal System


These are some of the professionals that treat
musculoskeletal problems:
 Orthopedic surgeons (prevention and correction of injuries
of the skeletal system, muscles, joints, and ligaments)
 Osteopathic physicians (focuses on prevention, wellness,
and the body’s natural ability to heal)
 Chiropractors (focuses on diagnosis and treatment of
misalignments of joints)
 Physical therapists and assistants (treat pain, disease,
or injury by physical therapeutic measures as opposed to
medical or surgical measures)
 Orthopedic technologists and technicians (assist
orthopedic surgeons in their treatment of patients)
 Podiatrist (treats feet and their ailments)
Components of the skeletal system:
 Bones
 Cartilage
 Tendons
 Ligaments
Functions of the skeletal system:
 Support
 Protection
 Blood formation
 Mineral storage and balance
 Detoxification
 Endocrine regulation
Support:
 The bones of your vertebral column, pelvis, and legs hold up
your body. The jawbone supports your teeth

,Protection:
 The skull protects your brain. The vertebral column protects
your spinal cord. The rib cage protects your heart and lungs
Blood Formation:
 Bone marrow in many bones is the major producer of blood
cells
Mineral Storage & Balance:
 The skeletal system stores calcium and phosphorus
Detoxification:
 Bones remove metals such as lead and radium from the
blood, store them, and then release them for excretion
Endocrine Regulation:
 Bone cells release a hormone called osteocalcin which
increases insulin secretion and reduces stores of fat


 Muscles cannot function without their attachments to
skeletal bones
Suffixes:
 -ic: pertaining to
 -or: doer
 -fication: to remove
 -al: pertaining to
 -ist: specialist
 -pathy: disease
Definitions:
1. Cartilage: Nonvascular, firm connective tissue found mostly
in joints
2. Ligament: Band of fibrous tissue connecting two structures
3. Muscle: Tissue consisting of cells that contract
4. Tendon: Fibrous band that connects muscle to bone

, 5. MD: Doctor of medicine
6. DO: Doctor of Osteopathy
7. DC: Doctor of Chiropractic
8. PT: Physical Therapist
Classification of Bones:
 Can be long, short, flat, or irregular
 Long: considerably longer than they are wide
o Ex] limbs, palms, soles, fingers, and toes
 Short: nearly as long as they are wide
o Ex] patella (kneecap), bones of the wrist and ankles
 Flat:
o Bones of the skull and the ribs
 Irregular:
o Vertebrae
Structure of the Bones:
 Long bones are the most common in your body
o Ex] Although your arms and legs are long, very few
bones make up that length
 Diaphysis: The shaft of a long bone
o Contains compact bone (cortical bone)
o Contains a hollow cylinder called the medulla which
contains bone marrow (fatty tissue)
 Epiphysis: (epi=upon, physis=growth); expanded area at
the proximal and distal ends of a long bone to provide
increased surface area for attachment of ligaments and
tendons
o Ends of the bone
o Spongy material
 Epiphysial plate: thin layers of cartilage cells that allow
bones to grow longer
o Between the diaphysis and epiphysis
 Periosteum: tough connective tissue covers the outer
surface of all bones
o Protects the bone