What is the skeletal system? Bone Types and it's Function.

What is the skeletal system?

Bones,cartilage, ligaments are tightly joined to form a strong flexible framework called skeletal system .

The human skeletal system consists of all of the bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments in the body. Altogether, the skeleton makes up about 20 percentTrusted Source of a person’s body weight.

An adult’s skeleton contains 206 bones. Children’s skeletons actually contain more bones because some of them, including those of the skull, fuse together as they grow up.

There are also some differences in the male and female skeleton. The male skeleton is usually longer and has a high bone mass. The female skeleton, on the other hand, has a broader pelvis to accommodate for pregnancy and child birth.

Regardless of age or sex, the skeletal system can be broken down into two parts, known as the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.
Types  of Bone

Long Bones
The bones of the body come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The four principal types of bones are long, short, flat and irregular. Bones that are longer than they are wide are called long bones. They consist of a long shaft with two bulky ends or extremities. They are primarily compact bone but may have a large amount of spongy bone at the ends or extremities. Long bones include bones of the thigh, leg, arm, and forearm.

Short Bones

Short bones are roughly cube shaped with vertical and horizontal dimensions approximately equal. They consist primarily of spongy bone, which is covered by a thin layer of compact bone. Short bones include the bones of the wrist and ankle.

Flat Bones

Flat bones are thin, flattened, and usually curved. Most of the bones of the cranium are flat bones.

Irregular Bones

Bones that are not in any of the above three categories are classified as irregular bones. They are primarily spongy bone that is covered with a thin layer of compact bone. The vertebrae and some of the bones in the skull are irregular bones.

All bones have surface markings and characteristics that make a specific bone unique. There are holes, depressions, smooth facets, lines, projections and other markings. These usually represent passageways for vessels and nerves, points of articulation with other bones or points of attachment for tendons and ligaments.

Function of Bone

• Supporting your body and helping you move. Your bones literally hold up your body and keep it from collapsing to the ground. Your posture depends on your bones. You also need to be able to coordinate your bones and shift your weight around them in order to move. 

• Protecting your internal organs. Your bones keep your organs safe from hard impacts, punctures, and other forms of injury. For example, your ribs protect your heart and lungs, and your skull protects your brain. 

• Producing your blood cells. Certain types of bones make your platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. These cells are made inside of your bones. Platelets help your blood clot, red blood cells deliver oxygen to your organs, and white blood cells help fight off infections. 

• Storing and releasing minerals. Bones can also store necessary minerals when their levels are too high in your blood. Then, your bones will release the minerals when your body needs them. Examples of these minerals include calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. 

Key points for function of bone

• Bones provide shape to the body.

• Bones act as a protection to internal organs like brain, heart, lungs etc..

• Provides support to the body and anchors muscles.

• Bones serve as storage space for minerals like calcium and phosphate

• Bones helps in facilitating body movements.

• Bones serve as the birthplace for red blood cells.