Skeletal System

SKELETAL SYSTEM

The skeletal system includes all of the bones and joints in the body. Each bone is a complex living organ that is made up of many cells, protein fibers, and minerals. The skeleton acts as a scaffold by providing support and protection for the soft tissues that make up the rest of the body. The skeletal system also provides attachment points for muscles to allow movements at the joints. New blood cells are produced by the red bone marrow inside of our bones. Bones act as the body’s warehouse for calcium, iron, and energy in the form of fat. Finally, the skeleton grows throughout childhood and provides a framework for the rest of the body to grow along with it.

ANATOMY OF SKELETAL SYSTEM

The skeletal system in an adult body is made up of 206 individual bones. These bones are arranged into two major divisions: the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton runs along the body’s midline axis and is made up of 80 bones in the following regions:
-Skull
-Hyoid
-Auditory ossicles
-Ribs
-Sternum
-Vertebral column
The appendicular skeleton is made up of 126 bones in the folowing regions:
-Upper limbs
-Lower limbs
-Pelvic girdle
-Pectoral (shoulder) girdle

DISEASES OF SKELETAL SYSTEM

X-rays, MRIs, bone density tests and arthroscopy are some of the primary diagnostic tools used to detect diseases and deformities of the skeletal system. Bone scans and bone marrow biopsies are used to diagnose cancer, according to the Merck Manuals.

The primary skeletal conditions are metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and a few other rarer conditions, said Dr. Nathan Wei of the Arthritis Treatment Center.

Osteoporosis is a prevalent disease, particularly among the elderly, resulting in the loss of bone tissue. In osteoporosis, bone loses calcium, becomes thinner and may disappear completely, according to Wei. Osteomalacia is a softening of the bones, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is often caused by a vitamin D deficiency and results from a defect in the bone-building process. Osteoporosis, on the other hand, develops in previously constructed bones.

Arthritis is a group of more than 100 inflammatory diseases that damage joints and their surrounding structures. Arthritis can attack joints, joint capsules, the surrounding tissue, or throughout the body. It usually affects the joints of the neck, shoulders, hands, lower back, hips, or knees. “The diagnosis is suspected by a careful history and physical exam and confirmed through laboratory and imaging studies. Treatment depends on the type of arthritis,” Wei said.

Also common is scoliosis, a side-to-side curve in the back or spine, often creating a pronounced "C" or "S" shape when viewed on an x-ray of the spine. This condition is typically becomes evident during adolescence, the Merck Manuals noted.

About 90 percent of people will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, according to Dr. James Nace of LifeBridge Health. “Patients can often be helped with things such as anti-inflammatory medications, but in some cases may need treatments such as topical medications, patches or electrical stimulation.”

One of the much rarer diseases of the skeletal system is bone cancer. It may originate in the bones or spread there from another part of the body. In the United States, primary bone cancers accounts for less than 1 percent of all cancer cases, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancers that metastasize — originate from other parts of the body and then spread to the bones — are much more common than primary bone cancer.

Bone cancer is a malignancy arising in the bones and supporting structures such as cartilage, according to Dr. Robert Christie, medical oncologist and hematologist at Virginia Cancer Specialists, a practice in The U.S. Oncology Network. “Unfortunately, these bone cancers are often seen in younger patients in their 20s and 30s versus lung cancer and breast cancer which are typically diagnosed later in life.”
While leukemia is a cancer that primarily affects the blood, the skeletal system is involved as the cancer starts in the marrow of the bone. With this type of cancer, abnormal white blood cells multiply uncontrollably, affecting the production of normal white blood cells and red blood cells, according to the American Cancer Society.

Bursitis is a disorder that most commonly affects the shoulder and hip joints, Nace said. It is caused by an inflammation of the bursa, small fluid-filled bags that act as lubricating surfaces for muscles to move over bones.

The skeletal system is also susceptible to breaks, strains and fractures. While bones are meant to protect the body’s vital organs, it takes about 10 to 16 pounds of pressure to break an average bone. Bones such as the skull and femur are much tougher to break.