1. The Skeletal System 1
Ahmed Khan
Texas Woman’s University
ZOOL 2011.02
2 October 2015
The Skeletal System
The skeletal system is made up by the bones of the body, cartilage, ligaments, and
connective tissues (Tortora, 1981, 134p). They have five major functions. The skeletal system
provide support to the body to keep its posture correct and maintain its form. It also protects
priority organs like the brain, the heart, and the lungs. The skeletal system also stores lipids,
calcium and other minerals, as well as producing red blood cells (Tortora 1981. 125p). The bone
skeletal system also work like levers connected to the body allowing it to move as the muscle
contract (Tortora, 1981, 125p). The structurale of the skeletal system is made up of two types of
connected tissue, and they are known as cartilage and bone (Tortora, 1981, 125p). The skeletal
system is an tissue and just like other tissues it needs vitamin, mineral, and other substance to
work properly.
Vitamin D deficiency is an environmental impact that occurs in people with not enough
exposure to sunlight. This vitamin plays a very important role in synthesis of a protein that
transports the calcium and phosphorus from the food to the blood stream (Tortora, 1981, 134p).
This deficiency can lead to rickets and osteomalacia. As the calcium and phosphorus levels in
blood become low body takes these minerals from the bone causing demineralization. It makes
epiphyseal plate of the bone wider and diaphysis part of the bone calcified (Tortora, 1981, 134p).
As a result, when as person stands up the weight of the body affects the bones in the legs and
spine turning them into bow like shape.

2. The Skeletal System 2
Vitamin D deficiency leads to osteoporosis, scoliosis, and genu valgum, a deformation of
the lower limb, where the knees touch together to supports the weight of the body (Sahay, 2012).
It also leads to delay in motor coordination and poor growth for children. In adults vitamin D
deficiency can lead to having difficulty claiming up stair and getting to a squatting position
(Sahay, 2012). Patients with this deficiency might not be able to run or turn quickly because it
might lead to dislocating of something. They will not be able to lift heavy weights because of the
stress on body. Patients with vitamin D deficiency may experience lower back pain, bone pain,
and weakening of muscles. Because of the low levels of calcium in the blood, it can also cause
seizures. If it is severe enough, it can be life threatening. Blood tests and body mineral density
assessment are used to screen for vitamin D deficiency. Doses of Vitamin D is the treatment for
people with this deficiency but the level of doses depend on the patience. In patients with high-
risk deficiency of vitamin D the treated ranges from 800 - 50,000 units of vitamin D2 or D3 daily
until there is there is evidence of healing (Sahay, 2012). For pregnant women 600 - 800 units of
vitamin D3 should be taken weekly (Sahay, 2012). For children the level of vitamin D in the
body should be maintained to 1000 mg/day to avoid hungry bone syndrome which can lead to
biochemical and radiological abnormalities. After the doses, the vitamin D levels should go back
to normal, and the skeletal deformities should also turn back to normal. Having a high level of
vitamin D in the diet and being in the sun longer can help improve vitamin D deficiency levels in
the body.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affect the skeletal system. It makes bone thin and fragile
making them prone to fractures. “Osteoporosis occurs when the body stop producing sex
hormones which are used to maintain osseous tissue by stimulating the osteoblasts to form new
bone” (Tortora, 1981, 134p). As a result, a person's ability to get osteoporosis increases with age.

3. The Skeletal System 3
The severity of the disease determine how daily life is affected. Since patients with osteoporosis
are prone to fracture, things like a fall from a standing position could lead to breaking of the hip
or vertebral fracture. This disease also causes thinning of discs between the vertebrates leading to
spinal deformation. The deformation of spine could lead to bent forward posture which affects
the ability to do daily activities. Osteoporosis can be founded by doing a bone mineral density
(BMD) assessment. This assessment could be done by digital X-ray absorptiometry (DXA),
quantitative computed tomography (QCT), Quantitative ultrasound (QUS), and other
radiographic techniques (Das, 2010).
“Osteoporosis can be treated with anti-resorptive drugs like Bisphosphonates,
Alendronate, Denosumab, and Calcitonin and with anabolic agents like Teriparatide, Strontium
ranelate, and Raloxifene” (Das, 2010). All these treatment manage osteoporosis and help lower
the risk of fractures, but it is not a complete solution to the disease. According to the FDA the
treatment for osteoporosis should continue for about 3-5 years (Das, 2010), after which body
should be allowed a period of time without the drug to see if the normal bone remodeling
resumes and then restart therapy.
As shown, the skeletal system is very important to human functionality and can be
affected by disease and environmental impacts. That’s why keeping it healthy should be main
priority.
References
● Das S, Crockett J. 2010. Osteoporosis - a current view of pharmacological prevention and
treatment. PMC: US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health
[Internet]. [cited 2015 Oct 3]. 7: 435-448. Available from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3686324/

4. The Skeletal System 4
● Sahay M, Sahay R. 2012. Rickets-vitamin D deficiency and dependency. PMC: US
National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health [Internet]. [cited 2015 Oct 3].
16(2):164-176. Available from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313732/#sec1-9title
● Tortora G, Anagnostakos N. 1981. Principal of Anatomy and Physiology. 3rd.
Manhattan (NY): Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. 124-135 p.