The Skeletal System: The Structure Of The Skeletal System

Structure of the skeletal system

Axial Skeleton

The axial skeleton is part of the skeleton where there is bones at the top and bottom of a vertebrate. The human skeleton has 80 bones and is made of 6 parts. The axial skeleton has 2 responsibilities. The first is to support and defend the organs in the dorsal and ventral cavities. The second is to make a surface for the muscles.

Appendicular skeleton

The appendicular skeleton helps the upper and lower limbs of the human body.The human appendicular skeleton is around the bones of the upper limbs and the lower limbs . It also has the pectoral girdle and the pelvic girdle, which connect the upper and lower limbs to the body.

Types of bones

Long bones

Long bones are hard, dense bones that give strength,

The cranium has two temporal bones located to the base and side of the skull, and two parietal bones that make up the top of the skull.

Clavicle

The collarbone is a big doubly curved long bone that joins the arm to the trunk of the body.Based directly above the first rib it keeps the scapula in place so that the arm can hang freely.

Ribs

The ribs are flat, thin bones that, together with the sternum, create up of the ribcage. The ribs provide safety for vital organs in the upper body, along with the heart and lungs. The ribs also help to protect major vessels in the upper body.

Sternum

The sternum is a flat bone based at the anterior aspect of the thorax. It lies in the midline of the chest and has a ‘T’ shape. As part of the bony thoracic wall, the sternum helps give safety to the heart, lungs and oesophagus.

Humerus

The humerus is the long bone in the upper arm. It is located between the elbow joint and the shoulder. At the elbow, it connects primarily to the ulna, as the forearm's radial bone connects to the wrist.