Skeletal System
Skeletal System
There are 206 bones in the human body, all connected to form the skeletal system. Different bones have different purposes but one of the principle functions is to give the body shape – this allows movement, giving muscles a structure to attach to.
Other bones provide protection for organs, such as the ribs and skull which provide protection for important organs like the lungs and brain. The spine, which is a series of smaller bones called vertebrae, protects the spinal cord as well as being the central column that supports the rest of the body.
Bone marrow also produces red blood cells, some white blood cells and platelets which are used by the body. They also provide a store of minerals such as calcium.
Bone sizes range from the tiny stapes bone in the ear (one of three small bones that help to transmit sound through vibrations) to the femur, the biggest and strongest which forms the top of the leg.
Bones come in five different types:
- Long (such as those in the limbs and fingers)
- Short (including those found in the ankles and wrists)
- Flat (such as those that make up the skull)
- Sesamoid (like the patella, are embedded in tendons)
- Irregular (including vertebrae and pelvis).
Fractures
When a bone breaks it is known as a fracture. There are several common categories of fracture which describes the type of break in the bone.
- Green stick – a split in the bone but not completely broken. This type of fracture is common in young children who have flexible bones.
- Closed fracture- a clean break in the bone with no other complications.
- Open fracture – the bone is sticking through the skin creating an open wound.
- Complicated fracture- in addition to the broken bone there may be a trapped nerve or other complication.
