The Skeletal System

Front 1

Functions of the Skeleton

Back 1

support- hold the body up, supports
muscles, mandible and
maxilla support teeth
protection- bones enclose & protect
brain, spinal cord, heart,
lungs
movement- limb movements,
breathing, action of
muscle on bone
electrolyte balance- stores calcium
and phosphate ions &
releases according to
the body's needs
acid-base balance- buffers the blood
against excessive pH
changes
blood formation- red bone marrow is
the major producer of
blood cells, including
cells of the immune
system

Front 2

Flat Bones

Back 2

enclose and protect soft organs and provide broad surfaces for muscle attachment
(cranial bones, ribs, sternum, scapula, hip bones)
curved but wide and thin

Front 3

Long Bones

Back 3

longer than wide
serve as rigid levers acted upon by muscles
(humerus of the arm, radius and ulna, metacarpals, and phalanges, femur, tibia, fibula)

Front 4

Short Bones

Back 4

equal in length and width
glide across one another in multiple directions
(carpal and tarsal)

Front 5

Irregular Bones

Back 5

elaborate shapes that don't fit into the other categories
(vertebral, some skull bones, such as the sphenoid and ethmoid)

Front 6

General Features of Long Bone

Back 6

epiphyses- enlarged ends of a long
bone
enlarged to strengthen
joint
attach ligaments and
tendons
diaphysis(shaft)- cylinder of
compact bone to
provide leverage
compact(dense)bone - outer shell
of long bone
spongy(cacellous)bone- bone
covered by more durable
compact bone
found in ends of long
bones & middle of nearly
all others
Skeleton about 3/4 compact and 1/4 spongy bone by weight