We explain what the skeletal system is and the parts it is made of. Also, its various functions and possible diseases.
What is the skeletal system?
The complex and complete system is called the skeletal system. structure composed of the 206 bones of the human skeleton as well as the cartilage, ligaments and tendons that allow them to properly connect to the muscles or other bones.
The skeletal system, together with the muscular and articular system, constitutes the apparatus locomotive of the human body, that is, the one that allows precise and coordinated movement.
The skeletal system is then made up of:
- Bones Rigid structures, mineralized from calcium and other metals, are the hardest and most resistant parts of the human body and vertebrate animals. Inside, there is also the marrow that fulfills hematopoietic functions (red blood cells are created).
- Cartilage Cartilage is found at the ends of the bones, protecting them by serving as cushioning, so that one does not collide with another, thus avoiding wear. These are flexible and thick structures, composed mainly of collagen.
- Ligaments. Very resistant, dense and elastic fibrous tissues, which join the bones together at the points of rotation that are the joints. Thus, it is vital for movement, but also to prevent bones from moving out of place or moving unnaturally.
- Tendons. Like ligaments, they are thick and elastic fibrous tissues that join the muscles to the rigid pieces of the bones, allowing the force of the muscle cells to be transmitted to the bones and thus enabling voluntary movement.
See also: Physiology
Functions of the skeletal system
The skeletal system fulfills the following functions:
- Structure The bones of the skeleton give the human body its defined shape and determine its posture. They provide rigidity and support to soft tissues, keeping everything in its respective place.
- Protection Being hard and inflexible pieces, bones serve as an internal shield, as protection against forces coming from outside the body, isolating and defending vital organs.
- Motion Along with the muscles, the bones provide the body with the possibility of voluntary coordinated movement, thus being able to move, use tools, etc.
- Hematopoiesis. Different types of blood cells, and even regulatory substances, are generated in the bone marrow.
- Storage Various minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are stored in the bones, not only to provide them with hardness, but to later use them as an input in muscle contraction and other organic processes, thus being a last-minute resource store. On the other hand, bones also allow the storage of certain types of lipids, in the yellow marrow inside.
Diseases of the bone system
The most well-known diseases that affect the bone system are the following:
- Cancer Produced in the bone marrow by the abnormal multiplication of certain cells (myeloma) or sometimes between the hardened cells of their most rigid part (sarcoma). It leads to weakening of the structure and painful local numbness.
- Osteoporosis It is a chronic loss of calcium that hardens the bones, closely associated with age and other processes of the human body, causing the thinning of the bones and an increase in their fragility, which requires a combined treatment with calcium supplements and physical exercise.
- Paget's disease It is a congenital condition that causes the cells that give rise to bone to malfunction, which leads to abnormal thickening and widening of the skeletal structure.
- Rickets Due to a deficiency in vitamin D intake or some endogenous problem that prevents its absorption, patients with this disease present a progressive weakening of the bones, which makes them painfully fragile.
