Functions of the Skeletal System

Functions of the Skeletal System






There are totally 206 bones in our body and basic function of skeletal system is to provide base for the entire organs and underlying tissues of the body. Based on the type of its location, human skeleton is divided into two parts namely axial skeleton (body bones) and appendicular skeleton (bones of arms and legs).

The functions of skeletal system can be summarized as follows :

Shape :

The bones give shape to the body and it is the skeletal system that determines a person to be tall or short. The structure of hands and legs is based on the growth of bones.

Support :

The skeletal system offers support to the entire body and holds all the internal organs erectly. It is the spinal cord which makes your body to stand erect. The bones are designed to include every organ within them. You can see the skull contains and offers support to brain, the chest contains the heart and lungs inside and the abdomen contains gastro intestine and other organs inside.

Movement :

You are able to walk and run only because of the stretching of muscles and pulling together of bones. Hence the shape of the skeletal system AIDS in the movement of muscular tissues along with several body parts with comfort. It is the small bones in the hands which helps in precise holding of pen and the bones in the legs facilitates holding of shoes. Hence we are able to make meticulous movement only because of the skeletal system and rigid shape of the bones.

Protection :

It is because of the skeletal system that holds the internal organs; our body is protected from damage and external injury. The thorax bone consists of ribs and sternum offers protection to the underlying heart.

Similarly the brain is kept safe inside the cranium and the vertebral column protects the millions of spinal nerves safely.

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Production of blood cells :

Finally the bone is responsible for producing blood cells. On average, bone marrow produces around 2.6 million Red Blood Cells every second. Any problem in the bone marrow causes depletion of red blood cells causing anemia and severe complications. In addition, the bones acts as a store-house storing several important minerals like calcium and phosphorous. Whenever the body requires these minerals, the bone releases them into the blood thus balancing the mineral contents in the body.

When you become old, certain red bone marrow changes its color into yellow bone marrow. They store adipose cells which is a vital source of chemical energy to the body.

Functions of the Skeletal System

Functions of the Skeletal System

Support

The skeletal system serves as a supporting structure of the human body. Not only does it support soft tissues, but also, it provides points of attachment for majority of the skeletal muscles. These bones contribute to the shape, alignment, and positioning of the body parts. For instance, the pelvis and its related supporting structures provide a floor for the pelvic structures. Another is the importance of the role of the ribcage for in its absence, the heart and lungs would collapse easily.

Protection

A major function of the skeletal system is that it mechanically protects the soft and delicate internal organs of the human body, thereby, reducing risk of injury to these structures. For example, the skull shelters the brain and the eyes, the spinal column protects the nerves, the fibrous discs between each vertebra as shock absorber and the rib cage encloses the heart and the lungs and protects major blood vessels. Other bones include clavicle and scapula which provide protection for the shoulders, the carpals and tarsals protecting the wrist and ankle, and the patella and ulna safeguarding the knees and elbows.

Movement

Bones, together with the joints create levers, allowing a wider range of motion in different directions and in different ways while movement is powered by the muscle tissues which are attached steadily to the bones. When the skeletal muscles contract and shorten, the bones are pulled, thus, creating a movement at the joint. The muscular system, skeletal system and joints present the most important mechanics for movement, all synchronized by the nervous system

Hematopoiesis

The human skeletal system does not only function to provide support but also, importantly, it manufactures blood cells in the bone marrow. This process is called hematopoiesis or the formation of blood cellular components. This is a vital process carried on by red bone marrow or myeloid tissue. Primarily, this tissue is situated in the epiphyses, in the long bones, flat bones of the skull, in the pelvic bones and in the ribcage. In this tissue, new blood cells can be produced and those blood cells which are damages can be repaired. This bone marrow can produce red blood corpuscles, white blood corpuscles and other blood elements.

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Mineral Storage

The skeletal system can be considered as a major reservoir for some minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. The bone matrix can store up calcium which is essential for the homeostasis of blood calcium concentration. When the blood concentration goes beyond the normal range, calcium moves out of the blood into the bones more rapidly, decreasing the concentration level of calcium in the blood usually to its homeostatic level. And when the body requires, bone can release minerals into the blood to facilitate the balance of minerals. Iron in ferritin, on the other hand can be stored by bone marrows.
Endocrine regulation

The cells in the bones let loose of a hormone identified as osteocalcin, otherwise established as bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein. This is a noncollagenous protein found in bone and dentin which is thought to play a significant role in the fat deposition, metabolic regulation and bone-building and regulation of blood sugar as beta cells in the Pancreas to liberate more insulin.

Storage of Chemical energy

As age advances, the red bone marrow changes into yellow bone marrow. This bone marrow primarily consists of adipose cells and a few blood cells. These fat cells are major chemical energy reserves.