Chapter 5

• What does the skeletal system include?

  The skeletal system includes bones, cartilages, ligaments, and other connective tissues.
• What is the primary function of bones in the skeletal system?

  Bones support our weight and work with muscles to produce controlled movements.
• How do muscles interact with the skeletal system?

  Muscles pull against the skeleton to facilitate movement.
• What are the major functions of the skeletal system?

  • Support: Provides structural support for the body.
  • Mineral storage: Stores calcium and phosphate ions.
  • Blood cell production: Produces red and white blood cells in red marrow.
  • Protection: Shields delicate tissues and organs.
  • Leverage: Functions as levers to change force magnitude and direction.
• What is the role of calcium in the skeletal system?

  Calcium is a valuable mineral reserve that maintains normal concentrations of calcium and phosphate ions in body fluids.
• Where are blood cells produced in the skeletal system?

  Blood cells are produced in red marrow, which fills the internal cavities of many bones.
• What organs are protected by the skeletal system?

  The ribs protect the heart and lungs, the skull protects the brain, the vertebrae protect the spinal cord, and the pelvis protects digestive and reproductive organs.
• How do bones function as levers in the skeletal system?

  Bones change the magnitude and direction of forces generated by skeletal muscles.
• What are the two divisions of the skeleton described in the chapter?

  • Axial skeleton: Bones of the skull, vertebral column, sternum, and ribs.
  • Appendicular skeleton: Bones of the limbs and associated bones connecting limbs to the trunk.
• What types of tissues are contained in bones?

  Bones contain osseous tissue, other connective tissues, smooth muscle tissue, and neural tissue.
• What is the internal organization of a typical bone composed of?

  • Osseous tissue
  • Other connective tissues
  • Smooth muscle tissue
  • Neural tissue