THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

1.1 Draw and label a diagram of the bones of the interior and posterior skeleton. Explain the difference between he the axial and appendicular skeletons

Human skeleton consists of both individual and fused bones, which are supplemented and supported by tendons, cartilage, muscles, and ligaments. All of these serve as a scaffold for supporting the anchor muscles, and organs. Along, with that it also protects the lungs, heart and brain of the human being. The biggest bone in the human body is the thigh bone and the smallest bone is the stapes bone located in the middle ear. There are several factors that contributes towards the bone density and average mass of the human skeleton which includes certain factors such as; race, gender nutrition, hormones, lifestyle behaviours, and physical activity. (JONES, pp.35-67, 1970).

The skeletal system of human being is divided in to two parts, first is the appendicular skeleton, and second is the axial skeleton (HALTON, F., & A´VILA, pp.26-89, 1995), and there are 5 main functions of a human skeleton.

Axial Skeleton

Appendicular Skeleton

The axial skeleton structure comprises of cartilage, bones, and ligaments, it is also known as the trunk for ribs, skull, and the spine. In human beings the axial skeleton system plays the role of a protective encasement for the central nervous system of the human tissue, it protects the organs of the body like skull, along with that it also protects the ribcage and the human brain and the heart.

The appendicular skeleton is the peripheral skeletal structure that includes arms, legs, pelvis (excluding the sacrum), and shoulder. It too, like the axial skeleton, is primarily comprised of bones and is held together with ligaments, with cartilage as the connective tissue that performs various functions essentially relating to making the joints run smoother

Anterior view

Posterior view

1.2 Explain function of the skeleton

According to the biology department of the Minnesota State University, a Human skeleton comprises of two hundred and six bones. All of these bones when put together, it creates a human skeletal system, a system that provides a base framework to which all the other organs and tissues of the human body are attached, and it forms a complete human body (PARKER, S., & DOWELL, pp.12-56, 1988).

Shape

The structuring of the bones of the skeleton plays a major role in giving the underlying shape to the human body. This shape develop over the growth of a human being and the skeletal system will conclude if they are narrow or wide, short or tall, along with certain other factors which includes the sized of feet and hands. There are three types of body shapes which includes; mesomorphs, endomorphs, and ectomorphs.

Support

The skeleton endows support to the human body, along with that it also holds the internal organs of the human body together in their places. The vertebral column of the human skeleton allows the human body to stand erect, whereas the cavities of the skeleton are designed to hold the organs inside ...