Name _________________________________________ Date _______________ Class ____________

CHAPTER

14 Skeletal, Muscular, and

Nervous Systems
LESSON 1 The Skeletal System
BIG Idea Before You Read
The skeletal system provides a
living structure for the body. Your skeleton provides support to your entire body. On the lines
below, describe some actions you can take to keep your skeletal
system healthy. As you read, add more actions to your list.

Study Coach

Table Make a two-column

table. Title the first column
Function and the second
column Example. Write the
Read to Learn
functions of the skeletal system How the Skeletal System Works
as listed in the chapter text. As Your skeletal system is made up of 206 bones and the
you read, write in the names of
specific bones that perform each
attached connective tissues. Bones can be very tiny, like the
function. bones in the middle ear. They can also be very long, like the
bone in your thigh. Connective tissues cushion the bones,

Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Function Example
attach bone to bone, and attach bones to muscles.
Your skeletal system has many functions, including:
t Providing support for the body.
t Protecting internal tissues and organs.
t Acting as a framework for attached muscles.
t Allowing movement of limbs and digits.
t Producing new red and white blood cells.
t Storing fat and minerals.
What are bones?
Bones are made up of living tissues formed into different
layers. The outer layer is hard, densely packed, compact bone.
1. Explain What is the Beneath that is a spongy, less dense bone filled with red bone
difference between red
bone marrow and yellow marrow. Red blood cells are produced in this spongy bone.
bone marrow? Some bones also contain yellow bone marrow. This is a type of
connective tissue that stores fat. Bones are categorized by their
shape. Shapes include long bones, short bones, flat bones, and
irregular bones.

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Bone Structure Bone Shapes

2. Analyze A bones shape
cartilage Long bone is related to its function.
marrow (humerus) What are the functions of
cavity each of these bones?

compact bone
spongy bone
Flat bone
(rib)

Short bone
(wrist)

What is connective tissue?

There are three types of connective tissue: cartilage,
Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

ligaments, and tendons. Cartilage is a strong, flexible

connective tissue. It acts as a cushion between two bones. It 3. Identify Which type of
connective tissue attaches
also shapes soft parts of the body, such as the tip of the nose muscle to bone?
or the outer ear. All bones begin in the embryo as cartilage.
As a fetus develops, some cartilage hardens into bone. This is
known as ossification. Ossification (ah-sih-fih-KAY-shun) is
the process by which bone is formed, renewed, and repaired.
Connective tissue can also hold parts of the body together.
A ligament is a band of connective tissue that attaches one
bone to another. Ligaments attach to bones to create joints.
For example, a ligament attaches the bones of the arm
together to form the elbow joint. A tendon is a fibrous cord
that attaches muscle to the bone. Muscles contract to move
parts of the body.
4. Infer Why might a ball-
What are joints? and-socket joint be covered
with cartilage?
Joints are points at which bones meet. Some joints, such as
the ones between the bones of the skull, do not move. Other
joints are flexible. Flexible joints include ball-and-socket
joints, hinge joints, pivot joints, and ellipsoidal joints.

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Joints
5. Analyze What kind of
motion do these joints
produce?

Hip Knee
(ball-and-joint socket) (hinge joint)

Caring for the Skeletal System

Your overall health depends on the health of your skeletal
system. Eat a healthy diet, get regular physical activity, and
have regular checkups to keep your skeletal system healthy.
Foods high in calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorous help
prevent skeletal disorders.
6. Extend What kind During regular checkups, your doctor can screen you for
of sports might require skeletal disorders such as scoliosis. Scoliosis is a lateral or

Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

protective gear to protect
side-to-side curvature of the spine. Weight-bearing exercise
your skeletal system?
such as walking or weight training helps bones stay strong.
Wearing protective gear during sports can help reduce the risk
of bone fractures.

Understanding Skeletal Problems

Skeletal problems can have many causes. These causes
include poor nutrition, infections, injuries, and poor posture.
Degenerative disorders such as osteoporosis can also cause
problems with the skeletal system.

What are fractures?

A fracture is any type of break in a bone. In some fractures,
called compound fractures, the broken end of the bone breaks
through the skin. In a simple fracture, the broken bone does
not break through the skin. Fractures are also classified by the
pattern of the break:
t Hairline fractures. These occur when the parts of the
bone do not separate.

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t Transverse fractures. Tranverse fractures occur when the

fracture is completely across the bone.
t Comminuted fractures. These occur when the bone
shatters into more than two pieces.

What kind of injuries can occur in the joints?

Injuries to joints can occur from overuse, strain, or disease.
Here are some types of joint injuries: 7. Explain How can poor
nutrition affect your skeletal
t Dislocation. This results when a bone slips out of place. system?
This tears the ligaments that attach the bone at the joint.
A doctor will reset the joint and bandage it until the
ligaments heal.
t Torn cartilage. Torn cartilage can result from a sharp
blow to a joint or a severe twisting of a joint. Surgery can
remove pieces of the damaged cartilage.
t Bursitis. This results from the painful inflammation of a
bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that can help to reduce
friction in the joints.
t Bunions. Bunions are painful swellings of the bursae in
the first joints of big toes. Wearing ill-fitting shoes can
make bunions worse. Large bunions may require surgery.
t Arthritis. This is the inflammation of a joint. The 8. Describe What are three
things you can do to reduce
Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

condition can result from an injury, natural wear and tear,

your risk of developing
or disease. osteoporosis?

What is repetitive motion injury?

Prolonged, repeated movements such as sewing or
computer work can cause injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome
occurs when ligaments and tendons in the wrist swell.
Pressure on the nerves can cause numbness, tingling in the
thumb and forefinger, pain, and weakness in the hand.

What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is the gradual loss of bone tissue. Bones
weaken and become brittle, increasing the risk of injury.
Healthful behaviors during your teen years can reduce your 9. Identify Look at the
risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Eating foods gure on the next page.
What is the name of the
containing calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus will help bone that makes up your
bones remain strong. Regular physical activity stimulates bone knee cap?
cells to increase bone mass. Early detection is also essential to
slowing the loss of bone tissue. A bone scan (in which X-rays
measure bone density) can detect signs of osteoporosis.

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The Skeletal System

Your bones continue to grow, both in length and in thickness, until approximately age 25. At this age,
bones usually stop growing but may continue to thicken.

occipital bone
Axial Skeleton
parietal bone
frontal bone
atlas (1st vertebra)
axis (2nd vertebra) nasal bone
cheek bones
cervical vertebrae (neck) temporal bones
mandible (jaw)
Appendicular Skeleton
(shoulders, arms,
hips, legs)
clavicle (collar bone)
thoracic vertebrae scapula (shoulder blade)
(upper back) sternum
ribs (at bones)

lumbar vertebrae
(lower back) humerus
radius
ulna
Pelvis
carpal bones (wrist)
illium

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sacrum
coccyx metacarpal bones (hands)
pubis phalanges (ngers)
ischium

femur (long bone)

patella (knee cap)

tibia (long bone)

bula (long bone)

tarsal bones (ankle)

calcaneus (heel)
metatarsal bones (foot)
phalanges (toes)

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