The Skeletal System:

structure, function and diseases of the bones and joints

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

 PARTS OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

1. Bones (skeleton)

2. Joints

3. Cartilages

4. Ligaments (bone to bone) (tendon= bone to muscle)

FUNCTIONS OF BONES

1. Support of the body

2. Protection of soft organs

3. Movement due to attached skeletal muscles

4. Storage of minerals and fats

5. Blood cell formation

Bones of the Human Body

 The skeleton has 206 bones

 Two basic types of bone tissues:

1. Compact bone – homogenous

2. Spongy bone – small needle like pieces of bone and many open spaces.

 Bones are classified by their shapes:

 Long

 Short

 Flat

 Irregular
Classification of Bones

 Long bones

 typically longer than wide

 Have a shaft with heads at both ends

 Contain mostly compact bone

 Examples: femur, humerus

Gross anatomy of long bone

Classification of long bone

 Short bones

 Generally cube – shape

 Contain mostly spongy bone

 Examples: carpals, tarsals

Flat bones

 Thin and flattened

 Usually curved

 Thin layers of compact bone around a layer of spongy bone

 Examples: skull, ribs, sternum, scapula

 Irregular Bones

Irregular shape

 Do not fit into other bone classification categories

 Examples: vetebrae and hip/pelvic

Type of Bone Cells

 Osteocytes

 Mature bone cells

 Osteoblast

 Bone forming cells

 Osteoclast

 Bone destroying cells

 Break down bone matrix for remodelling and release of calcium

BONE FRACTURE
 A bone fracture is a medical condition where the continuity of the bone is broken.

 Common causes:

1. Stress ( direct force, twisting force, muscle contraction)

2. Pathological fracture ( bone cancer, osteoporosis)

Signs and symptoms of fracture

1. Bleeding

2. Calor

3. Swelling

4. Pain

5. Loss of function

6. Crepitus

7. Deformity

Types of bone fracture

A. Closed (simple ) fractures – break that does not penetrate the skin.

B. Open (compound) fracture – broken bone penetrate through the skin.

Common types of fracture

 Transverse fracture – the breaks runs across the bone or fracture line is perpendicular to the shaft (long part) of
the bone.

 Oblique fracture – is when the breaks is on an angle through the bone.

 Longitudinal fracture – the breaks runs parallel with the bone.

 T fracture –

 Avulsion fracture -

Diagnostic examination

 X – ray films should be taken in at least 2 projections usually AP and lateral view

 X- ray films should be large enough to include one end of joint and adjacent soft tissue

Management of fracture

1. Closed reduction – closed the fracture without communication or incised openning of the skin.

Examples: application of cast or skin traction

2. Open reduction – incised with the affected area

Examples: ORIF

Goals of management:

1. Realignment of the fractured bone thru close and open reduction.

2. Maintenance of realignment of the bone by immobilization

3. Restoration of function

CAST

 Is a rigid immobilizing that is moulded to the contours of the body. The purpose of a cast are to immobilize a
body part in a specific position and to apply uniform pressure on encased soft tissue.

Know Your Materials

 Plaster of Paris (POP)

 Synthetically based fiberglass

POP

 The time-tested form of immobilization.

 Hemihydrated calcium sulfate

 First described in 1852

Advantages:

 Less expensive

 More moldable than synthetic counterparts

 More pliable

 Can be effectively spread after the cast is univalved

Disadvantages:

 Poor resistance to water

 Relatively low strength-to- weight ratio

 Heavier (thicker) casts

Synthetic Fiberglass Materials

Advantages:

 Lightweight, yet strong

 May be combined with waterproof liners to allow bathing and swimming in the cast.

 Often more radiolucent than plaster

 Better imaging within the cast.

 Lower risk of thermal injury:

 Less material is required

 Very low amount of thermal energy is released during the curing process

Disadvantages:

 More expensive.

 More difficult to mold

 More stiff

 Higher risk of pressure on and constriction of the limb.

 Carcinogenic risk (??)