Question

1. What are the functions of the skeletal system?

2. How are bones classified based on their shape?

3. Define the following: process, ramus, trochanter, tuberosity, tubercle, facet, fossa, foramen and fissure.

4. What are the structural components of a long bone?

5. What are the components of the bone matrix?

6. Compare and contrast compact bone with spongy bone.

7. What is an osteon, and what are its components?

8. What is the function of red marrow in the bones and how does it differ in adults and infants?

9. Define the following terms: osteoblast, osteogenesis, osteoid, osteoclasts, osteolysis.

10. How do osteocytes communicate?

11. Summarize the process of endochondral ossification (two paragraphs).

Answer 1

Question 1.

Answer.

It is important to understand the skeletal system is composed of 206 individual bones in the human body. For that reason, it has many functions in our body, that are describing below.

1. The skeletal system brings the support that body structure needs and help to provide the right shape of the body.
2. Other important function is to protect the more vulnerable tissues and organs of the body. Due to bones is one of the strongest materials in nature.
3. Permits the movement of the muscles, due to our body’s joints.
4. Works as a storage of minerals and chemicals, since bones keep calcium, phosphorus and other minerals keeping the equilibrium in the bloodstream.
5. Finally allows the blood cell and platelet production. This process is called hematopoiesis, where stem cells in the red marrow tissue of the bone permits the differentiation into red, white blood cells or platelets.

Question 2.

Answer.

Bones can be classified based on shape into five different categories, described below.

1. Long bones: These bones are known to be long with open ends. Example of these bones are: femur and clavicle.   
2. Short bones: Their main characteristic is the irregular shape and cube-shaped that possesses. Example: carpals of the hand.
3. Flat bones: As their name mentions, these bones are flat and their main function is to protect or provide muscle attachment. Example: ribs and scapula.
4. Irregular bones: These are unique in shape and function. Example: vertebrate and ossicles of the ear.
5. Sesamoid bones: These types of bones are small rounded placed within the tendon and fascial tissue close joints. Example: The patella

Question 3.

Answer.

Process: Can be defined as the steps or series of actions needed in order to achieve a result. This concept has many connotations based on the fields, such in biology, thermodynamics and marketing just to mention some.

Ramus: This can be a branch of a bone, typically is a projecting part for example a branch of a nerve or the ischium.

Trochanter: This bone is a portion of the femur and the joint is located closed with the hip bone.

Tuberosity: This is an irregular surface projection or protuberance of a bone, as a consequence for the attachment of a muscle.

Tubercle: Can be considered as a small rounded projection that can occur on a bone or on the surface of the body

Facet: In anatomy, is a small, smooth and flat area on a hard surface, mostly in bones.

Fossa: Is a cavity or hollow on a surface’s bone.

Foramen: An aperture, orifice or opening in a bone.

Fissure: In anatomy, is considered as a natural division in an organ.

Question 4.

Answer.

The mainly structural components of a mature long bones are the diaphysis and the proximal and distal ends referred to as epiphyses. The third important component of a mature long bone is the metaphysis which represents the region toward each end of the diaphysis that joints with the epiphysis. In the immature growing bones, the metaphysis and epiphysis are separated by the epiphyseal plate where longitudinal growth occurs.