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Michael Paff
Dr. Oquendo
Western Medical Terminology
5/28/17
Skeletal System: Bones and Joints

Bones are part of the musculoskeletal system; along with joints, muscles, tendons and

ligaments. But, it is bones that provide the basic structure around which our body is built, as well

as protection for the organs. They also assist in movement serving as a point of muscular

attachment. Joints are the part of the skeletal structure where bones come together with there

being several types; depend on the location in the body. The human body contains 206 bones of

differing types. Long bones make up the arms and legs, Short bones are found in places like the

wrist and ankle. Sesamoid bones tend to be small and rounded in shape found near joints to

increase the efficiency of muscles. The kneecap is the largest sesamoid bone (Chabner 560).

Functions of the bones are to:

Protect, support and move the body and its organs. The skull, or cranium,

provides protection for the most important organ; the brain. The spinal column

protects the spinal cord and the rib cage protects the heart and lungs. The bones of

the lower body, legs and pelvic girdle, as well as the spinal column hold the body

up. While muscles are responsible for our movements, they only function due

their attachment to the bones.

Bones are formed through a process known as ossification, as the bones are

mainly composed of osseous tissue. Osseous tissue consists of a combination of

osteocytes (bone cells), dense connective tissue strands known as collagen, and

intercellular calcium salts. (chabner, 559) Osteocytes are further broken down

into osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The osteoblast produces the osteocytes that ossify

into bone. The osteoclasts exist to reabsorb bony tissue, generally from the inside
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of the

bones.

The

constant

production and reabsorption gives bones the ability to adapt and constantly renew

themselves.
Bone marrow, in adults, is responsible for blood cell formation, also called

Hematopoiesis. It is a continuous process where blood is replenished as needed.

Bone marrow produces all red blood cells, platelets and 60-70 percent of white

blood cells in adulthood. During the embryonic stage of life, first the yolk sac and

then the liver are the most important for the formation of red blood cells.

(www.britannica.com/science/blood-cell-formation).
Bones store and help regulate calcium and phosphorus level in the body. These

levels, particularly calcium, are vitally important for the maintenance of normal

neuromuscular function, intraneuronal transmission, cell membrane integrity and

permeability, and blood coagulation. Approximately 99 percent of the bodys

calcium and 85 percent of its phosphorus are in the mineral deposits of bone.

Hormones secreted by the parathyroid gland regulate the release of calcium from

the bones into the bloodstream.

Anatomy and Types of bones

Long bones, such as the thigh and arm bone are composed of a middle region called

diaphysis and each end of a long bone is an epiphysis. There is a plate, or epiphyseal line
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composed of cartilaginous tissue from where the bone grows; also, known as the growth

plate. The area calcifies once the bone has reached full growth. The flared part of the

bone between the epiphysis and the diaphysis is called the metaphysis. The periosteum is

a hard, fibrous cover on the surface of long bones. Articular cartilage covers the ends of

long bones. The bones themselves do not touch, but are cushioned by this thick, smooth

cartilage which allows for smooth movement.

Cranial bones, or the bones of the skull, protect the brain and much of the sense organs of

the head. Newborns skulls are not completely joined and have soft spots, called

fontanelles. When these spots harden, the joints are called sutures. The bones of the

cranium are the frontal bone (forehead), parietal bones (one on each side), the temporal

bone (houses the ear and connection for lower jaw), occipital bone (back and base of the

skull), sphenoid bone (attached to frontal, occipital and ethmoid bones) and the ethmoid

bone (supports nasal cavity and forms part of the eyes).

Vertebrae and the vertebral column houses the spinal cord and contains 26 bone

segments. There are five divisions that run from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The

cervical vertebrae are the first seven bones making up the neck (C1-C7). The thoracic

vertebrae (T1-T12) connect with 12 pair of ribs. Next, are the 5 lumbar vertebrae (L1-

L5). The sacral vertebrae, or sacrum are five bones that fuse together as a child and the

coccyx is the tailbone, composed of four small bones that also fuse together. Each non-

fused vertebra is separated by an intervertebral disc, which is thick cartilage that works to

absorb force. There is a space in the vertebral body called the neural canal, which the

spinal cord passes through.

Pelvic, thoracic and bones of the extremities consist of long, short, flat and sesamoid

bones. The scapula, sternum, pelvis and ribs are flat bones, whereas the bones of the

upper and lower extremities are long bones. Bones in the hands and feet are short bones,
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which show similarity in structure: metacarpals of the hand are similar the metatarsals of

the feet.

Pathologies and fractures of the bones

Cancers of the bone including Ewing sarcoma, a malignant tumor usually diagnosed in

between the ages of 5 and 15, and osteogenic sarcoma where osteoblasts form large bony

tumors most commonly found just above or below the knee. Cancers from other body

parts that metastasize to the bones are called metastatic bone lesions.
Fractures are bones that are broken traumatically. Close fractures are those where the skin

is not broken and open, or compound, fractures break through the skin. Fractures can

occur pathologically, if there is a bone disease, tumor or infection. Some of the types of

fractures are:
o Colles fractures which occur close to the wrist on the radius
o Compression fractures which are most often happen in the vertebrae
o Greenstick fracture is a bone that partially breaks; bending on one side and

breaking on the other

o Impacted fractures happen when one edge of the broken bone is driven into the

other broken edge.

Osteomalacia is a softening of the bones due to insufficient mineral content. Its more

commonly known as rickets.

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of the bone usually as the result of an infection, where

pus collects and spreads down the medullary cavity.

Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone density, which creates a thinning and weakening of the

bones. As the bones, thin and weaken fractures can occur, as well as loss of height.

Joints are where two or more bones come together and is called an articulation

Suture joints are immovable articulations, such as the bones of the skull. And, some

joints, like the vertebrae, are only partially moveable.

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Synovial joints make up the moveable joints in the body. Hinge joints like the knee and

elbow, and ball and socket joints like the hip and shoulder are synovial joints. Synovial

joints are surrounded by a joint capsule and ligaments connect one bone another.
Bursae are small sac of synovial fluid located near joints. They aid in reducing friction in

body parts that need to slide past one another during movement.

Diseases and pathologies of the joints

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. It causes the bones to hypertrophy and

articular cartilage to deteriorate.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic joint disease causing pain and inflammation. It is

considered an autoimmune disease that appears to affect the synovial memebrane.

Bunions are the abnormal swelling of the joint of the big toe and the first bone of the

foot.
Dislocations are usually cause by trauma. The joint no

longer articulates. Most commonly known is

acromioclavicular dislocation, or a dislocated shoulder

where the glenoid fossa of the scapula is pulled away

from the head of the humorous. A subluxation is a

partial or incomplete dislocation. (Chabner, 2007)

Intervertebral disc herniation occurs when the

fibrocartilaginous disc between the vertebrae protrudes

onto the spinal nerves, into the neural canal.

Medical professionals treating bones

Doctors who specialize in the treatment of bones are orthopedists, or orthopedic surgeons

who specialize in the treatment injuries and diseases of the bones, joints and ligaments.
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Osteopathic physicians, or osteopaths (DO) are trained in different diagnostic and

therapeutic treatments based on the idea that, when the bones are aligned, the body can

heal itself. DOs are not medical doctors (MDs).

Chiropractors are concerned with the proper alignment of the spine, rooted in the premise

that disease is caused by pressure on the nerves as they exit the spinal column.
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Works Cited

Chabner, Davi-Ellen. The Language of Medicine. St. Louis. Sanders. 2007. Print.

Green, Daniel. ACE Personal Trainer Manual. San Diego. American Council on Exercise. 2010.

Print.

Encyclopedia Britannica. Blood cell formation. www.britannica.com/science/blood-cell-

formation