The skeletal system consists of approximately 206 bones, providing the body with structure and support. Let's take a tour of various components that form the skeletal system.
Here's the skull. It has 8 cranial bones that protect the brain. The facial skeleton has 14 bones that provide a framework for the eye sockets, jaws, and teeth. The facial bones provide the framework for the various structures of the face including the overlying muscles, fat and skin.
The vertebral column is composed of 24 individual vertebrae, along with two sets of fused bones called the sacrum and coccyx. In addition to providing support for the trunk of the body, the vertebral column protects the spinal cord. All together, there are 7 cervical, or neck vertebrae; 12 thoracic, or upper back, vertebrae; and 5 lumbar, or lower back, vertebrae.
The sacrum is composed of 5 fused bones, while the coccyx, or tailbone, is typically made up of 3 to 5 bones.
Twelve pairs of ribs form a protective cage for the heart, lungs, and other internal organs.
The first 7 ribs are called true ribs because they attach to the breastbone, or sternum. Ribs 8 through 12 are called false ribs, because they either attach indirectly, or, as is the case with ribs 11 and 12, float and don't attach to the sternum at all.
Now let's take a look at the pair of shoulder blades, or scapulae, and the collar bones, or clavicles. It is very important for the scapulae to be mobile, because they connect to the shoulder joint, which is the most movable joint in the body.
The bones of the upper limb include the humerus, which connects the shoulder with the elbow, the ulna, the radius, the wrist bones or carpals, the hand bones or metacarpals, and the finger bones or phalanges.
To complete our tour, let's take a look at the pelvic girdle, knee, and foot.
The pelvic girdle is formed by a pair of hip bones. Each hip bone is comprised of 3 fused bones, the ilium, ischium, and pubis.
The pelvic girdle connects with the femur or thigh bone at the hip joint.
The femur is the longest bone in the body and is important for bearing the body's weight while standing.
At the knee, the femur articulates with the tibia or shin bone. The tibia bone bears about 85% of the weight through the leg. The fibula does not bear weight, but several muscles attach to it. The patella, or kneecap, is suspended within muscle tendons and glides through a notch at the end of the femur when the knee bends.
And last, but certainly not the least, are the feet. The foot bones, which include the tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges, are organized into a series of arches that allow the feet to support the body's weight.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 10/06/2008
Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Muscular system and skeletal system are the major components in walking and running.
There is no major organ in the skeletal system. Major structures for the skeletal system include bones, joints, ligaments, and cartilage.
the major system is the skull for the brain
Skeletal System - Skeleton and nerves
The major tissues involved in the skeletal system include connective tissues and muscle. The connective tissues help hold the skeletal system together.
The skeletal system supports your body and its major parts are the patella the ulna and the clavicle.
Your spine
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the skeletal system
CONNECTIVE and MUSCULAR
The major structures of the muscular system highlight the skeletal muscles. These are the muscles involved with contracting and moving body parts. The smooth muscles are the domain of the subconscious mind, (most organs). The tendons and ligaments connect the bones together as well as the muscles to the bones. And Adipose tissue is a connective tissue that stores fat and cushions joints.
Leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis.