Bones AP1 CH6 PDF
Bones
Chapter 6
Overview of the Skeleton
Skeleton: Greek for "dried up body"
Characteristics: Very strong, Very light
Functions:
Locomotion
Protection
Coordinates other functions
Formed approximately 3 million years ago when humans began to stand upright.
Problems with the Skeletal Design
"S" shaped structure leading to sway back design
Particular attention to knees
Percentage of Body Mass:
Skeleton composition: 20% of body mass
Example: A 180 lb person has a skeleton weighing 36 lbs.
Composition of the Skeleton
Composed of:
Bones: Represent most of the skeleton; total of 206 bones in adults.
Cartilage: Found only in specific areas.
Joints: Points where two or more bones meet.
Ligaments: Connect bones and reinforce joints.
Types of Cartilage
Key locations:
Cartilage in external ear
Intervertebral discs
Cartilage in nose
Articular cartilage in joints
Costal cartilage in rib attachments
Cartilage in epiglottis, larynx, and trachea
Meniscus: Pad-like cartilage in the knee joint
Classification includes:
Axial skeleton
Appendicular skeleton
Hyaline cartilages
Elastic cartilages
Fibrocartilages
Classification of Bones by Shape
1) Long Bones:
Description: Longer than they are wide (e.g., humerus).
2) Short Bones:
Description: Cube-shaped bones (e.g., wrist and ankle); includes bones forming within tendons (e.g., patella).
3) Flat Bones:
Description: Thin, flattened, and slightly curved (e.g., sternum, most skull bones).
4) Irregular Bones:
Description: Bones with complicated shapes (e.g., vertebrae, hip bones).
Bone Markings
Function: Sites of muscle attachment, joint surfaces, routes for blood vessels, and nerves.
Projections for Muscle and Ligament Attachment
Tuberosity: Rounded projection
Crest: Narrow, prominent ridge of bone
Trochanter: Large, blunt irregular surface
Line: Narrow ridge of bone
Tubercle: Small rounded projection
Epicondyle: Raised area above a condyle
Spine: Sharp, slender projection
Process: Any bony prominence
Projections That Help Form Joints
Head: Bony expansion on a narrow neck
Facet: Smooth, nearly flat articular surface
Condyle: Rounded articular projection
Ramus: Armlike bar of bone
Depressions and Openings
Meatus: Canal-like passageway
Sinus: Cavity within a bone
Fossa: Shallow basin-like depression
Groove: Furrow
Fissure: Narrow, slit-like opening
Foramen: Round/oval openings through a bone
Table 6.1: Bone Markings
Projection types and their functions provided for quick reference.
Gross Anatomy of Bones
Bone Textures:
Compact Bone: Dense outer layer
Spongy Bone: Honeycomb of trabeculae filled with yellow bone marrow
Structure of Long Bone
Components include:
Diaphysis: Tubular shaft forming the axis of long bones
Epiphysis: End components of long bones
Interior of epiphysis contains spongy bone, exterior is compact bone.
Bone Membranes
Periosteum: Double-layered protective membrane rich in nerves, blood vessels
Endosteum: Delicate membrane covering internal surfaces of bones
Microscopic Structure of Bone
Haversian System/Osteon: Structural unit of compact bone with components:
Osteocytes: Mature bone cells
Lacunae: Small cavities containing osteocytes
Canaliculi: Hair-like canals connecting lacunae
Lamella: Matrix tubes composed mainly of collagen
Haversian Canal: Central channel with blood vessels and nerves
Chemical Composition of Bone
Inorganic: Hydroxyapatites, mineral salts (65% of bone by mass) primarily calcium phosphates, contributing to hardness and compression resistance.
Response to Mechanical Stress
Wolff’s Law: Bone adapts and remodels in response to forces applied on it.
Bone Fractures
Classified by:
Position of bone ends after fracture
Completeness of the break
Orientation relative to the long axis
Whether the bone ends penetrate the skin
Types of Bone Fractures
Nondisplaced: Ends retain normal position
Displaced: Ends misaligned
Complete: Broken all the way through
Incomplete: Not completely broken
Linear: Parallel to long axis
Transverse: Perpendicular to long axis
Compound (open): Ends penetrate skin
Simple (closed): Ends do not penetrate skin
Common Types of Fractures
Comminuted: Bone shatters into 3+ pieces; common in elderly.
Spiral: Ragged break from twisting forces; typical sports injury.
Depressed: Fracture pressed inward; common in skull.
Greenstick: Incomplete fracture in children; one side bends, the other breaks.
Compression: Crushed bone, occurs in porous bones.
Epiphyseal: Separation at epiphyseal line
Table 6.2: Common Types of Fractures
Overview of various fracture types and their descriptions for reference.
Homeostatic Imbalances
Osteomalacia: Inadequately mineralized bones due to lack of calcium or vitamin D, causing weakness and pain under weight.
Rickets: Similar to osteomalacia but in children, leading to deformities.
Osteoporosis: Group of diseases with bone resorption outpacing deposition, leading to frail bones, prevalent in postmenopausal women.
Osteoporosis Treatment
Suggested:
Calcium and vitamin D supplements
Increased weight-bearing exercise
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Natural progesterone cream for new bone growth
Statins to increase bone mineral density.