Bone_lab

You may use this page to look up the bones you will identify in the lab practicum.

Bone Identification Lab

def. bone (tissue): Mineral hardened connective tissue.
def. bone (organ) (pl. bones): Organs in vertebrate skeletons that function in movement and locomotion, protecting other organs, mineral storage, and (in some bones) blood cell production.

Bone Tissue

def. Compact bone: Dense bone with structural units called haversian systems.
def. Haversian system (Osteon): Circular arrangements of calcified matrtix and bone cells that give bone tissue its characteristic appearance.
def. Lacuna: Space or cavity in bone matrix or cartilage matrix.
def. Osteocyte: Bone cell.
def. Spongy bone: Porous bone in the end of long bones which may be filled with marrow.

• Compact bone: Contains many cylinder-shaped structural units called haversian systems. Each haversian system surrounds a canal called a haversian canal, that runs lengthwise through the bone, which contain a blood vessel. Haversian canals are connected to each other by transverse Volkmann’s canals. The living part, the bone cells (osteocytes) are located in small spaces called lacunae, which are arranged in circles around the central haversian canal. Small canals called canaliculi connect each lacuna and bone cell with blood vessels. The hard part is a calcium rich matrix produced by the bone cells.

Bones (Organs)

The bones are organs in our body, and therefore at the organ level of biological organization. (See figure below.)

Source: http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/dott_c/Bio%20320-Ecology/220%20Lectures/vocab.hierarchy.jpg

• FUNCTIONS OF BONES

1. MOVEMENT -- interacting with skeletal muscles
2. PROTECTION -- hard bones protect brain, lungs, heart, etc.
3. SUPPORT -- support and anchor muscles
4. MINERAL STORAGE -- mineral ion storage (for metabolic activities & body fluids)
5. BLOOD CELL FORMATION --

• EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVES:

1. S-curved, flexible spine -- (advantage: bipedalism; disadvantage: lower back and neck problems)
To increase the carrying strength of the vertebral column, going from a four-legged organism to a two-legged bipedal organism, and to make balance possible in the upright position, the vertebral column is curved. At birth there is a continuous posterior convexity from head to coccyx. Later, as the child learns to sit and stand, secondary posterior concavities necessary for balance develop, during the first 18 months of age, in the cervical and lumbar regions. The normal curvature of the column is S-shaped, convex through the thoracic region and concave through the cervical and lumbar regions. The vertebra in the column is held together by flexible joints and this flexibility is decreased with age, this is especially noteworthy in the cervical and lumbar regions where displaced joints may cause pressure on the nerves and cause pain. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)

2. shorter pelvis -- (advantage: bipedalism; disadvantage: birth problems)
The pelvic outlet is just large enough for the passage of a baby during delivery. However, careful positioning of the baby’s head is required. The tiny coccyx bone which protrudes into the pelvic outlet, sometimes breaks when the force of labor contractions pushes the newborn’s head against it. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)

3. bipedalism -- (advantage: increased ability to travel and ability to see better; disadvantage: arches of the foot problems)
The main function of the foot is support. Strong ligaments and leg muscle tendons normally hold the foot bones firmly in an arched position. Architecturally arches furnish more supporting strength than any other type of construction. “Flatfoot” results when there is a weakening of tendons and ligaments attached to the tarsal bones. Downward pressure by the weight of the body of a bipedal organism gradually flattens out the normal arches of the bones in the foot. A related problem is when high heels in shoes throw the weight forward, causing the heads of the metatarsals to bear most of the body’s weight. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)

4. trapezius -- (advantage: opposable thumb -- ability to use hand tools; disadvantage: ?)
The main function of the hand is manipulation. The thumb metacarpal forms the most freely movable joint with the carpals. This fact has great evolutionary significance. Because of the wide range of movement possible between the thumb metacarpal and the thumb carpal trapizium, particularly the ability to oppose the thumb to the fingers, the human hand has greater dexterity than the forepaw of other animals and has enabled humans to manipulate their environment effectively. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)

• BONES OF THE HUMAN SKELETAL SYSTEM

• 206 bones
Names of individual bones or bone groups for lab midterm exam are in orange color.

• Axial skeleton -- 80 bones

-- skull bones
(22: Cranial Bones 8, Facial Bones 14. e.g. mandible
-- auditory ossicles
(6) (middle ear: Malleus (hammer), Incus (anvil), Stapes (stirrup))
-- hyoid bone
(1) (No articulation; support the tongue + attachment for muscles)
-- vertebrae (26)

cervical vertebrae (7):

Atlas, Axis, Vertebra prominens + 4 other

thoracic vertebrae (12): articulate with the ribs

lumbar vertebrae (5): attachment for large back muscles
Sacrum (1): 5 fused bones
Coccyx (1): 4 fused bones
To increase the carrying strength of the vertebral column, going from a four-legged organism to a two-legged bipedal organism, and to make balance possible in the upright position, the vertebral column is curved. At birth there is a continuous posterior convexity from head to coccyx. Later, as the child learns to sit and stand, secondary posterior concavities necessary for balance develop, during the first 18 months of age, in the cervical and lumbar regions. The normal curvature of the column is S-shaped, convex through the thoracic region and concave through the cervical and lumbar regions. The vertebra in the column is held together by flexible joints and this flexibility is decreased with age, this is especially noteworthy in the cervical and lumbar regions where displaced joints may cause pressure on the nerves and cause pain. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)
-- ribs
(24 -- 12 pairs): pair 11, 12 do not attach to sternum via cartilage)
-- sternum (breastbone) (1)

• Appendicular skeleton -- 126 bones

-- pectoral girdle (Shoulder) [2 shoulders]
(2) Clavicle -- collarbone + (2) Scapula -- shoulder blade
-- arms [2 arms]
(6): Humerus, Ulna, Radius
-- hands (54) [2 hands -- 27/hand]
(16) Carpals (wrist) e.g. Trapezium, (10) Metacarpals (palm), (28) Phalanges (finger)
The main function of the hand is manipulation. The thumb metacarpal forms the most freely movable joint with the carpals. This fact has great evolutionary significance. Because of the wide range of movement possible between the thumb metacarpal and the trapizium, particularly the ability to oppose the thumb to the fingers, the human hand has greater dexterity than the forepaw of other animals and has enabled humans to manipulate their environment effectively. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)
-- pelvic girdle (Hip)
(2) Coxal bones -- hipbones (6 fused bones: ilium, pubis, ischium)
(Note: Sacrum + Coccyx part of the pelvic girdle -- -- but in the axial skeleton)
The pelvic outlet is just large enough for the passage of a baby during delivery. However, careful positioning of the baby’s head is required. The tiny coccyx bone which protrudes into the pelvic outlet, sometimes breaks when the force of labor contractions pushes the newborn’s head against it. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)
-- legs [2 legs]
(8): Femur (thighbone), Patella (kneecap), Tibia (shinbone), Fibula
-- feet (52) [2 feet -- 26/foot]
(14) Tarsals (ankle) e.g. Talus, and Calcaneus, (10) Metatarsals, (28) Phalanges (toe)
The main function of the foot is support. Strong ligaments and leg muscle tendons normally hold the foot bones firmly in an arched position. Architecturally arches furnish more supporting strength than any other type of construction. “Flatfoot” results when there is a weakening of tendons and ligaments attached to the tarsal bones. Downward pressure by the weight of the body of a bipedal organism gradually flattens out the normal arches of the bones in the foot. A related problem is when high heels in shoes throw the weight forward, causing the heads of the metatarsals to bear most of the body’s weight. (Thibodeau, et. al. 1993. Anatomy & Physiology.)

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