Brandon Wilkins

Skeletal System Lab Report

Introduction
This lab report addresses bone matrix, pressure and force of the bones of the foot, and
osteoporosis.
The bone matrix plays a big part in keeping the bone healthy. If the bone matrix is not in
working order, the bone will not be able to support the body, including its weight and
gravity. The bone matrix has two major components within the system. These
components are inorganic salts and collagen. These are both responsible for different
aspects of the bone. The collagen is responsible for keeping the bone flexible and
malleable, so if stress is put onto it in a weird way, it is able to bend and not break. The
salts are responsible for keeping the bone strong, so it can support the weight that is put
onto it. If the bone lacks either of these components, it can have serious effects on the
bone. If the bone lacks collagen, the bone will be very stiff, making it more likely to
break. If the bone is lacking salts, the bone will be overly flexible and squishy, making
the bone unable to support the body.
The body is always putting off force, no matter what action is being done. Whether you
are running, walking, or jumping, force is being put off. Force then leads to pressure
being put off as well. Pressure is created when force is placed over a certain area. This
means that pressure can change a lot, depending on either how much the force is or
how large the area is. For example, whether you are walking in tennis shoes or boots,
the force is going to be the same. The only thing that will be different is the area in
which the force will be put over. For example, a tennis shoe will have a larger area than
a high heel, meaning that the force on the high heel will be a lot more concentrated than
the tennis shoe. This affects how the force will be distributed, affecting the overall
pressure.
One of the most common diseases that people get in the bones is osteoporosis. This
disease is caused when the body breaks down more bone than it is replacing. This
causes the bone to become more fragile. This leads to a honey come look throughout
the bone, making it more hollow than it was before. This disease is most common in
older patients, but can occur in younger people. One of the most common signs of
osteoporosis is the loss of height. Other than this, it is very hard to tell if someone is
developing osteoporosis or not. There are many different disease that can affect how
the bone replaces broken down bone. There are also many different habits that can
make bone loss even worse. Actions such as smoking and drinking can make bone loss

worse. Age also plays a role in developing osteoporosis. As time passes, the choices
that people make can start to come into play.

Figure 1 - Histology Lab

The histology of the bone helps keep the bone strong. The bone is made up of 5
different parts. These parts include the osteon, the lacuna, the lamella, the canaliculi,
and the central canal. There are many different types of bone. They are classified by
their shape and location. Some of the different types of bone include the flat, tubular,
irregular, sesamoid, accessory, or supernumerary. They can also be classified by their
size, such as long or short bones. These different types of bones are found all over the
body.

Table 1 - Extracellular Matrix Comparison

Vinegar

Frozen Bone

Dry Bone

Missing collagen fibers

Has both collagen fibers

and salt

Missing Salt

The bone matrix is very important to how healthy the bone is. The bone relies on two
different components, the inorganic salts and the collagen. These together make the
bone strong enough to withstand pressure and flexible enough not to break. The bones
must have both of these components, or the bone will not be able to remain healthy. If
the bone is lacking the salt, than it will not be strong enough to withstand pressure of
any kind because it will become very flexible. If the bone is lacking collagen, then it will
be very brittle and unable to bend if it needs too.

Table 2 - Forces and Pressure Data Table

Walking With No Shoes
Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Force

Area

Pressure

Left

640

570

656

622

305

2.040

Right

612

655

646

637

305

2.091

Walking With Regular Shoe

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Force

Area

Pressure

Left

749

762

772

761

1032

.737

Right

815

806

826

815

1032

.790

Walking With Shoes That Have A Heel

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Force

Area

Pressure

Left

744

698

657

699

1060

.660

Right

756

697

689

714

1060

.674

Pressure is a product of force and the area that it is being put over. The pressure will
change as either the force or the area does. For instance, a pressure will be much
larger if it is put over a smaller area because the force is being put over a smaller area,
so it is a lot more focused. If the area is larger, the force is being spread over a larger
area which makes the pressure much smaller.

Figure 3 - Force Graph

Force graphs are responsible for showing how force is is transferred and when it is at
its highest. For instance, in the graph right above it, the force jumps up in spurts. You
can clearly see where the heel hits and how the force jumps up to a peak. Then, as the
foot rolls, the force drops to another peak, then drops to 0 as the foot comes off. Then
as the next foot steps, the same thing happens. It shows how the force is always equal
or close to being equal, no matter what you are doing.

Figure 4 - Osteoporosis Infographic

Osteoporosis is one of the leading bone diseases in the world. This disease involves the
inner workings of the bone. The bone fails to recreate enough bone that was broken
down. This leads to many holes developing inside the bone. There are many different
factors that can affect how severe the disease can get. Some of the key factors include
age, family history of osteoporosis, lack of exercise, lack of calcium and vitamin D, and
drinking or smoking. Osteoporosis is currently incurable, but there are treatments that
can help with keeping it from getting too severe.

Discussion
As this lab concludes, I do still have one question about the skeletal system. I wonder
why 1 out of about every 500 people have an extra rib that can cause health issues,
such as pain in the shoulder and the neck, blood clots, and other health problems. I will
continue to research more about how this occurs.

Citations
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR. (n.d.). Osteoporosis Symptoms, Signs,
Treatment & Diet. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from
http://www.medicinenet.com/osteoporosis/article.htm
What is Osteoporosis and What Causes It? - National Osteoporosis Foundation.
(n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from
https://www.nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/
Histology of Bone . (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1254517-overview