The skeletal system is made up of bones, ligaments, and tendons. It provides structure and support to the body, protects internal organs, and allows for movement. The skeletal system is divided into the axial skeleton which includes the skull and vertebral column, and the appendicular skeleton which includes the upper and lower limbs. Bones have several functions including mineral storage, protection, movement, and blood cell production. There are different types of bones including long bones like the femur, flat bones like the ribs, and short or irregular bones. Joints can be fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial, and allow different degrees of movement between bones.

1. Skeletal System

2. Skeletal system is made up of your bones, ligaments, and tendons. It determines the shape and symmetry of the body; acts as a protective device for your organs; acts as a firm base for the attachments of muscles (without bones, your muscles would not function properly); and the marrow tissues in the cavity of the bones produces red cells and some white cells, required in your blood.

3. Endoskeleton Human have an endoskeleton, meaning that they are located inside the body. It consists of about 200 bones. The number of bones varies, because some bones fuse at different periods of time. Most bones are hollow with marrow cells inside. Ligaments connect bones to bones, and tendons connect bones to muscles.

4. Axial Skeleton The skull is made up of number of bones fused together. The backbone is composed of 33 separate different size and shaped vertebrae, and each of them are composed of centrum (base portion), and neural arch (surrounds and protects spinal cord.) 12 pairs of flat bones make up the rib basket. Its function is to support the chest wall, and prevents it from collapsing, when the diaphragm contracts.

5. Appendicular Skeleton Appendicular skeleton are made up of pelvic girdles (consists of 3 fused hipbones), pectoral girdles (consists of 2 collar bones - "clavicles"), and 2 scapulas (shoulder blades.)

6. Bone The Functions of a Bone Store Minerals Bones store calcium, phospherus and other minerals used by your body. Protects Bones help protect the body from injury. The spine and skull protect the CNS (Central Nervous System).

7. Movement Bones provide form and structure for muscles to work against. Muscles can contract, but not extend. Using bones as levers one muscle can contract to extend another. Blood Cells Red blood cells and some white blood cells are formed in the epiphysie of long bones. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. White blood cells help fight off infections.

8. Structure and Support The skeletal system provides a framework of support for the body to be built upon. The bones of the legs and back support the body's entire weight.

9. Parts of a Long Bone

10. Types of Bones Long Bones Long bones have a tubular shaft and articular surface at each end. The femurs, tibias, fibulas, humeri, radii, ulnas, metacarpals, metatarsals, phalanges, and clavicles are long bones. Flat Bones Flat bones are thin and have broad surfaces. The ribs, scapula, sternum, and ilium are all flat bones.

11. Short, or Irregular, Bones Short bones are variable in size and shape. These bones are generally compact in nature and are distributed throughout the skeleton. These include the entire vertebral column, carpal bones, and tarsal bones.

12. The Joints Fibrous Fibrous joints connect bones without allowing any movement. The bones of your skull and pelvis are held together by fibrous joints. The union of the spinous processes and vertebrae are fibrous joints. Cartilaginous Cartilaginous joints are joints in which the bones are attached by cartilage. These joints allow for only a little movment, such as in the spine or ribs.

13. Synovial Synovial joints allow for much more movement than cartilaginous joints. Cavities between bones in synovial joints are filled with synovial fluid. This fluid helps lubricate and protect the bones. Bursa sacks contain* the synovial fluid. * to enclose within fixed limits

14. Hinge A hinge joint allows extension and retraction of an apendage.

15. Saddle A saddle joint allows movement back and forth and up and down, bot does not allow for rotation like a ball and socket joint.

16. Ball and Socket A ball and socket joint allows for radial movment in almost any direction. They are found in the hips and shoulders.

17. Pivot Pivot joints allow rotation around an axis. The neck and forearms have pivot joints. In the neck the occipital bone spins over the top of the axis. In the forearms the radius and ulna twist around each other. Ellipsoid Ellipsoid joints are similar to a ball and socket joint. They allow the same type of movment to a lesser magnitude. The wrist is an ellipsoid joint.