Skeletal System and its Structure:The axial skeleton along with the appendicular skeleton comprises the skeletal system. The spine, skull and the rib cage that forms the main axis of the body, the spine, forms the axial skeleton. The appendicular skeleton is seen attached along with the axial skeleton that comprises of the bones of body’s appendages, the arms and the legs, which include bones of the shoulder area, the pectoral girdle, the hipbones (pelvic girdle).
The anterior and the posterior view of the human skeleton. The bones including the skull, the rib cage and the spine form the axial skeleton and the other bones form the appendicular skeleton
The axial skeleton that includes the skull is made up of 28 bones and help in the providing support and protection to the organs that are responsible for hearing, smell, sight and taste. The spine, which holds the skull at its top, has 33 vertebrae, which are fused at the lower end and provides support for the body’s weight and function in the protection of the spinal cord. The rib cage consists of two 24 ribs that are arranged in pairs and help in giving shape to the chest, provides support and also the protection of the vital organs of the body such as heart and lungs. To help the organs to be held in place, the rib cage provides attachment points for the connective tissue.
The appendicular skeleton is associated with the axial skeleton at the shoulders and the hips. The shoulder is formed by the loose attachment with the sternum including the clavicle bone and the scapula bone, which forms one shoulder. The shoulder with its wide range of shoulder motions forms the major disadvantage of the pectoral girdle’s loose attachment. The bones of the hips, the pelvic girdle are very dense and strong forming a bowl shape having a passage at its bottom, with each hip consisting of the ilium, the ischium and the pubic. The abdominal organ at the lower end that includes the intestine is protected by the pelvic girdle and supports the body’s weight. The bones of the body’s appendages, the arms and the legs have very sturdy bones that include the humerus and the femur (longest bone in the body).
Skeletal System and its Functions:
The human skeletal system as discussed provides a structural framework supporting the body, and the muscles that attach the bones help in the movement of the skeleton. It provides protection to the internal organs from any injury. The skeletal system consists of the haematopoietic tissues, which helps in the protection of the bone marrow and the bones help in storing the excess calcium.The human skeletal system comprising the axial and the appendicular skeleton renders protection to the vital organs apart from providing the framework.
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