Skeletal System Supplementary Information

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and concepts related to the skeletal system, including types of cartilage, bone structure, cell types, growth processes, and pathological conditions.

Hyaline cartilage

A type of cartilage that supports with flexibility and resilience, including structures like articular cartilages and nasal cartilage.

Elastic cartilages

Cartilages with more stretchy elastic fibers, found in areas like the external ear and epiglottis.

Fibrocartilages

Cartilages that are compressible with great tensile strength, found in locations such as the menisci of the knee.

Compact bone

The dense outer layer of bone.

Spongy bone

The inner, less dense bone layer consisting of trabeculae.

Periosteum

The outside covering of bones that is richly supplied with blood vessels and nerves.

Endosteum

The inside covering of bones that lines canals and covers trabeculae.

Osteoblasts

Bone-forming cells that secrete bone matrix and are actively mitotic.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells that monitor and maintain bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Cells found at sites of bone resorption that help break down bone.

Hematopoietic tissue

Blood-forming tissue found as red marrow within bones.

Endochondral ossification

The process of bone development from hyaline cartilage, applicable to all bones below the base of the skull.

Intramembranous ossification

Bone formation method that forms cranial bones and clavicles from fibrous connective tissue.

Growth hormone

The single most important stimulus of epiphyseal plate activity, released by the anterior pituitary gland.

Osteomalacia

A disorder characterized by poorly mineralized bones, resulting in soft and weak bone structure.

Osteoporosis

A disease in which bone resorption outpaces bone deposit, leading to fragile and porous bones.