Structures and Functions of the

Skeletal System

T HE FOOT BONE is connected to the leg bone. The leg bone is connected
to the…sesamoid bone inside a synovial joint. Learning the names of
common bones is probably not a favorite activity of most high school
students. As students of animal science, however, it has great
importance. Understanding the skeletal system of common animals will
lay the foundation for a proper study of animal anatomy.

Objectives:

! 1. Examine the skeletal

system, and describe its
functions.
2. Identify the components of bone, discuss the three cell types found in
bones, and discuss how bones are classified.

Key Terms:

! flat bones
long bones
osteocytes
osteoid
short bones
skeletal system
osteoblasts red marrow yellow marrow
osteoclasts sesamoid bones

The Skeletal System

As humans, the ability to walk upright and to perform a large number of tasks with amazing
precision is often taken for granted. These abilities that give us an edge over most other ani-
mals on our planet are the result of our skeletal systems. The skeletal system consists of
bones, teeth, joints, and structures that connect bones to other bones or muscles (e.g., liga-
ments, tendons, and cartilage). Most animals, excluding insects, have internal skeletal systems
that serve a variety of functions, including support, protection, storage, and healing. Whether
you are a pet owner or become a livestock producer, a knowledge of the basic structure and

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 FIGURE 1. The skeletal system of a horse.

function of the skeletal system will help you become more educated and more effective in the
care of these animals.

FUNCTIONS OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

The skeletal system has many functions, most of which we do not realize are taking place.
These various functions enable organisms to grow larger, move better, protect effectively, and
heal faster. Functions of the skeletal system include
support, protection, movement, mineral and energy
storage, and blood-cell formation.

Support
Without the support of the skeletal system, ani-
mals would all be confined to smaller, more compact
designs. In addition, animals mainly would inhabit
waters where gravity would not create much strain
on internal organs. Many bones of the body provide
support, but it is especially true of the long bones.
For example, the long bones in legs help support the
trunk. Bones other than long bones also provide sup-
port. For example, the first vertebra supports the
skull, the second vertebra supports the first, and so
on. With the support of bones, animals were able to
develop into larger organisms with greater chest and

FIGURE 2. Vertebra provide support and protection.

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 organ capacities. Even the massive bones found
from dinosaurs prove that large growth is not
possible without strong bones.

Protection
An important function of the skeletal system is
the protection of vital internal organs. The skull
protects the brain just as the rib cage protects the
heart, lungs, and abdominal organs. Being encased
and protected allowed these organs to develop and
to increase in size and performance. Without pro-
tection from bones, a simple bump to the head or
abdomen could be a fatal injury.

Movement
In combination with the muscular system, the
skeletal system provides for bodily motion. Skeletal
muscles are attached to bones by tendons. The ten-
dons act as a lever to move bones. All bones are FIGURE 3. The skeletal system provides protection to
pulled by muscles, not pushed, so each moveable vital internal organs.
bone must be strong enough to withstand the pull-
ing force exerted upon it.

Mineral and Energy Storage

The outer layers of bony tissues are used for the storage of minerals, primarily calcium and
phosphorus. Deposits and withdrawals of mineral ions from bone are continuous, which helps
to maintain blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Yellow marrow, found in the shaft of
long bones and other mature bones, consists mostly of fat and serves as an energy reserve.

Blood-Cell Formation
The inner core of bone is a soft tis-
sue called bone marrow. Red marrow
is a major site of blood cell and platelet
formation. Platelets help to heal
wounds by surrounding injury sites and
stopping external blood flow, eventually
forming a scab. Blood cells produced by
the marrow are red or white. Red blood
cells carry oxygen to tissues by way of
the circulatory system. Meanwhile,
white blood cells identify foreign and
potentially infectious cells in the body,
which they attack and destroy. FIGURE 4. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues.

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 Components of Bone
Bone formation in our bodies is kind of a strange event, with our bodies actually creating
and destroying bone tissue constantly. Bone is composed of organic and inorganic materials.
Inorganic or mineral components of bone account for 65 percent of the total bone mass. Most
of the 65 percent is made of calcium phosphate, which gives bone its hardness and rigidity.
The organic component consists of the three cell types found in bones and osteoid, which is
primarily collagen and gives bone its high tensile strength. The three cell types found in bones
are osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. Bone tissue first forms in prenatal development
where many bones are built on cartilage models. Then the osteoblasts form bone matrix by
secreting collagen. The osteoblasts become enclosed in the matrix and develop into
osteocytes, which are the principle bone cells that maintain daily cellular activities, such as
the exchange of nutrients and wastes with blood. Whereas osteoblasts deposit bone, osteo-
clasts secrete enzymes that digest bone. As a living tissue, bone is continually remodeled in
response to the body’s need for calcium and for repairing damaged tissue. Osteoclasts are
important in the development, growth, maintenance, and repair of bone. Bones are classified
by shape as long, short, flat, sesamoid, and irregular.

CLASSIFICATION OF BONE
There is no single bone from which entire organisms are built. Instead, many different
types of bones—each with different functions—work together to give the skeletal system
strength and effectiveness. Long bones are cylindrical in shape and consist of a shaft with two
ends. Found in limbs, long bones typically support body weight and act as levers. The femur,
or thighbone, is an example of a long bone. Short bones are cube-like in that they are nearly
equal in length and width.
Short bones are found in the
knee and hock and help to Flat Bone
absorb the shock of impact.
Generally thinner and usually
curved, flat bones (e.g., ribs,
scapula, and some bones in the
skull) surround and protect
vital organs. Sesamoid
Short Bones
bones are small and embed-
ded in tendons. The patella,
known commonly as the knee Irregular Bone
cap, is the only human
sesamoid bone. Irregular bones
have a variety of shapes and
sizes. Vertebrae and some FIGURE 5. Skeletal system strength comes from many different types of bones.
bones in the skull are examples
of irregular bones.

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 Summary:

" Since we rarely see bones on living organisms, they often are unnoticed until an
injury or defect brings them to our attention. In reality, bone provides a variety of
services behind the scenes to animal bodies. From support and movement to the
protection of vital organs, bones provide for everyday routines. On the microscopic
scale, bones are fighting viruses and infections that pose threats to our bodies with
the production of blood cells.

Different types of bones work together in our body to perform all the functions that
we require. Long bones, short bones, flat bones, and sesamoid bones all work
seamlessly to allow animals to move, eat, and grow normally. Without the skeletal
system, our lives just would not have any…structure!

Checking Your Knowledge:

# 1. What are the four classifications of bones?

2. List five functions of bones in the animal body.
3. Identify the two types of blood cells formed in bone, and give a brief descrip-
tion of the function of each.
4. What are the only sesamoid bones in the human body?
5. Define the following terms: osteoblast, osteoclast, and osteocytes.

Expanding Your Knowledge:

" Visit a local veterinarian and discuss the functions of bone. Questions could pertain
to the differences in bones in various common livestock or nutrition for healthy
bones in animals.

Web Links:

$ Equine (Horse) Veterinary Anatomy

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/equinehorseanatomy/Equine_Horse
_Veterinary_Anatomy.htm

Interactive Games—Livestock Identification

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/AGMANIA/Interactive/

Skeletal System
http://www.agedtechprep.com/content/hs/supplemental/200Animal/240/248/
248.ppt

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