Bones also serve as a site for fat storage and blood cell production. The unique connective tissue that fills the interior of most bones is referred to as bone marrow. There are two types of bone marrow: yellow bone marrow and red bone marrow.
Yellow bone marrow contains adipose tissue, and the triglycerides stored in the adipocytes of this tissue can be released to serve as a source of energy for other tissues of the body. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all produced in the red bone marrow.
As we age, the distribution of red and yellow bone marrow changes as seen in the figure Figure 6. An orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders and injuries related to the musculoskeletal system. Some orthopedic problems can be treated with medications, exercises, braces, and other devices, but others may be best treated with surgery Figure 6.
In recent years, orthopedists have even performed prenatal surgery to correct spina bifida, a congenital defect in which the neural canal in the spine of the fetus fails to close completely during embryologic development. Orthopedists commonly treat bone and joint injuries but they also treat other bone conditions including curvature of the spine. Lateral curvatures scoliosis can be severe enough to slip under the shoulder blade scapula forcing it up as a hump. Spinal curvatures can also be excessive dorsoventrally kyphosis causing a hunch back and thoracic compression.
These curvatures often appear in preteens as the result of poor posture, abnormal growth, or indeterminate causes. Mostly, they are readily treated by orthopedists. As people age, accumulated spinal column injuries and diseases like osteoporosis can also lead to curvatures of the spine, hence the stooping you sometimes see in the elderly.
Some orthopedists sub-specialize in sports medicine, which addresses both simple injuries, such as a sprained ankle, and complex injuries, such as a torn rotator cuff in the shoulder. Treatment can range from exercise to surgery. The major functions of the skeletal system are body support, facilitation of movement, protection of internal organs, storage of minerals and fat, and blood cell formation. Skip to content Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: List and describe the functions of the skeletal system Attribute specific functions of the skeletal system to specific components or structures.
The human skeletal system is not quite as simple as the popular children's song suggests. The "head bone" actually made up of 22 separate bones is not connected to the "neck bone," but rather to a series of small bones that go all the way down the back.
And the "toe bone" is actually made up of several bones that connect to another set of bones that provide structure for the foot. In total, the human skeleton consists of a whopping bones. In addition to all those bones, the human skeletal system includes a network of tendons, ligaments and cartilage that connect the bones together. The skeletal system provides the structural support for the human body and protects our organs.
Our bones also serve several other vital functions, including producing blood cells and storing and releasing fats and minerals, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information NCBI. Infants are born with about separate bones, according to Nemours , a nonprofit children's health provider. As a child grows, some of those bones fuse together until growth stops, typically by the age of 25, leaving the skeleton with bones. Our bones are separated into two categories based on the purpose and location of the bones: The axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton, according to the SEER program of the National Cancer Institute.
The axial skeleton contains 80 bones, including the skull, spine and rib cage. It forms the central structure of the skeleton, with the function of protecting the brain, spinal cord, heart and lungs. The remaining bones make up the appendicular skeleton; they include the arms, legs, shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle. The lower portion of the appendicular skeleton protects the major organs associated with digestion and reproduction and provides stability when a person is walking or running.
Cartilage is more flexible than bone but stiffer than muscle. Cartilage helps give structure to the larynx and nose. It is also found between the vertebrae and at the ends of bones like the femur.
These bones provide structure and protection and facilitate motion. Bones articulate to form structures. The skull protects the brain and gives shape to the face.
The thoracic cage surrounds the heart and lungs. The vertebral column, commonly called the spine, is formed by over 30 small bones. Then there are the limbs upper and lower and the girdles that attach the four limbs to the vertebral column.
The brain is surrounded by bones that form part of the skull. The heart and lungs are located within the thoracic cavity, and the vertebral column provides structure and protection for the spinal cord. How does the skeleton move? Muscles throughout the human body are attached to bones.
Nerves around a muscle can signal the muscle to move. When the nervous system sends commands to skeletal muscles, the muscles contract. That contraction produces movement at the joints between bones.
Bones of the appendicular skeleton facilitate movement, while bones of the axial skeleton protect internal organs. All skeletal structures belong to either the appendicular skeleton girdles and limbs or to the axial skeleton skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage. Bones of the human skeletal system are categorized by their shape and function into five types. The femur is an example of a long bone.
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