The Akeletal System: The Structures And Functions Of The Skeletal System

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The skeletal system consists of 206 bones and has other body attachments that assist in connecting them which are tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. The skeletal system provides vital functions for the human body. The functions this system provides are support, movement, protection, blood cell production, storage for calcium and endocrine regulation. Bone serves as the basic unit of the human skeletal system. Ossification is characterized as a process that produces new bone. This process is also known as bone formation. Bone formation consists of two types of development. They are intramembranous and endochondral formation. Intramembranous ossification takes place when cells within the membrane change and become osteochondral progenitor cells. …show more content…

They also differ in the types of bones that make up their individual skeletons. Axial skeleton consists of bones from the skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum and the appendicular skeleton consists of bones from the limbs, pelvis girdle, and pectoral girdle. The skeletal system is crucial for the human body to continue functioning and maintaining homeostasis. To protect different sections of the body there are 5 types of bones that serve a specific function for the system. The first type is long bone. Long bones are hard bones that provide strength, structure and mobility. (Medicine Net) These bones are longer than they are wide and they are mainly located in the appendicular skeleton. They also consist of several sections which are Diaphysis, epiphysis, metaphysic, and epiphyseal plates. The diaphysis is the long central shaft. Next, Epiphysis forms into the large ends of long bones while the area between the diaphysis and epiphysis is also known as metaphysis. Lastly, epiphyseal plates are plates of cartilage that allow growth to take place during childhood years. Cartilage cell production stops when the human body stops growing and the plates eventually become replaced by bone. Flat …show more content…

These functions are mineral storage, energy storage, and hematopoiesis. In regards to metabolic reaction, this system has extremely critical functions that are important for the entire body. The cells in bone tissues have chemical processes that produce the energy and substance needed to maintain life. The first function is the role of bone matrix. (Baumie) The bone matrix plays the role as a supply for minerals that are important to the body functions. The two main minerals are calcium and phosphorus. To keep the stability that is needed to support physiological processes the minerals can be released back into the bloodstream. (Baumie) For example, calcium ions are necessary for muscle contractions and flow of other ions that take place in the transferral of nerve impulses. (Baumie) The next function that is important for homeostasis is hematopoiesis. This process is responsible for producing new blood cells in the body. Hematopoiesis has three types of blood cells and they are able to become more than one type of a cell. (Baumie) Cells that are capable of producing more cells of the same type are called stem cells. The stem cells that are a result of hematopoiesis are Pluripotent stem cells, multi potent stem cells, and committed progenitor cells. Stem cells are not the only production from this process. The three types of white blood cells that are also produced

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