Skeleton is the hard framework of human body around which the entire body is built.
Skeleton can be defined as the hard framework of human body around which the entire body is built.
The study of skeleton is called osteology. Skeletal system is the system of bones, supported by ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage. Almost all the hard parts of human body are components of human skeletal system.
The skeletal system is essentially a scaffold that supports the body's organs, anchors the muscles and offers additional protection to internal organs such as brain and heart. Joints are very important as they contribute hard and rigid skeleton and allows different types of movements at different locations. For instance the skeleton without joints, no movement would have taken place and the significance of human body; no more than a stone. An adult's skeleton makes up about 30–40% of a person's body weight with about 206 bones.
Skeletal system is the system of bones, supported by ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage.
Bones, cartilage and joints: Skeletal system is the system of bones, supported by ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage. Human skeleton is composed of three main components. – Bones, Associated cartilages and Joints.
Bones are tough and rigid form of connective tissue. It is the weight bearing organ of human body and is responsible for almost all strength of human skeleton. Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in between bones and joints, also in many areas of the body, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the bronchial tubes etc. Articular cartilage is white in color, which protects the bone surface from wear and tear. Types of cartilages–hyaline, fibrous and elastic. A joint is a place where the two bones come in contact. Fibrous joints are immovable occurs in sutures of skull and teeth. Cartilaginous joints are slightly movable that occurs in spine and ribs. Synovial joints are freely movable joints that occurs in limb bones and girdles. The ball and socket (shoulder joint) are most mobile of all synovial joints. Hinge joints allow movement in one plane examples–elbow and knee joints. Gliding joint allows gliding movements between flat surfaces i.e., the two bones slide upon each other, ex–midcarpal joints. Pivot joint enables side–ward movements–enables to turn head side and side. The wrist is an ellipsoid joint. Joint seen between metacarpals of the thumb and corresponding carpals is saddle joint.