Long bone in human body

Figure 6.6 Classifications of Bones Bones are classified according to their shape. Long Bones A long bone is one that is cylindrical in shape, being longer than it is wide. Keep in mind, however, that the term describes the shape of a bone, not its size. Long bones are found in the arms (humerus, ulna, radius) and legs (femur, tibia, fibula), as well as in the fingers (metacarpals, phalanges) and toes (metatarsals, phalanges). Long bones function as levers; they move when muscles contract. Short Bones A short bone is one that is cube-like in shape, being approximately equal in length, width, and thickness. The only short bones in the human skeleton are in the carpals of the wrists and the tarsals of the ankles. Short bones provide stability and support as well as some limited motion. Flat Bones The term “ flat bone” is somewhat of a misnomer because, although a flat bone is typically thin, it is also often curved. Examples include the cranial (skull) bones, the scapulae (shoulder blades), the sternum (breastbone), and the ribs. Flat bones serve as points of attachment for muscles and often protect internal organs. Irregular Bones An irregular bone is one that does not have any easily characterized shape and therefore does not fit any other classification. These bones tend to have more complex shapes, like the vertebrae that support the spinal cord and protect it from compressive forces. Many facial bones, particularly the ones containing sinuses, are classified as irre...

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Human beings are vertebrates, meaning that we have a spinal column, or backbone. In addition to that backbone, we also have an extensive In addition to providing a framework for your body, bones also serve many other important biological functions, such as protecting your internal organs from harm and storing essential nutrients. Read on to explore the diverse functions and types of bones. Bones serve many vital functions in your body, including: Support Bone provides a rigid framework as well as support for other parts of your body. For example, the larger bones of the Movement Bones also play an important role in the movement of your body, transmitting the force of muscle contractions. Your The interaction of bones and muscles contributes to the wide range of movements your body is capable of making. Protection Your bones also protect many of your internal organs. Good examples of this include the way your rib cage surrounds organs such as your heart and lungs or how the bones of your skull surround your brain. Blood cell generation and maintenance The many cells of your blood — red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets — are formed within your bones. This process is called hematopoiesis, and it occurs in a part of your bone marrow called the red marrow. Storage Important minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, are stored within your bones. When your body needs more of these resources, they can be released back into your bloodstream for use. In addition to red ...

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Describe the microscopic and gross anatomical structures of bones • Identify the gross anatomical features of a bone • Describe the histology of bone tissue, including the function of bone cells and matrix • Compare and contrast compact and spongy bone • Identify the structures that compose compact and spongy bone • Describe how bones are nourished and innervated • function? Bone tissue (osseous tissue) differs greatly from other tissues in the body. Bone is hard and many of its functions depend on that characteristic hardness. Later discussions in this chapter will show that bone is also dynamic in that its shape adjusts to accommodate stresses. This section will examine the gross anatomy of bone first and then move on to its histology. Gross Anatomy of Bones A long bone has two main regions: the diaphysis and the epiphysis ( ). The diaphysis is the hollow, tubular shaft that runs between the proximal and distal ends of the bone. Inside the diaphysis is the medullary cavity, which is filled with yellow bone marrow in an adult. The outer walls of the diaphysis ( cortex, cortical bone) are composed of dense and hard compact bone, a form of osseous tissue. Figure 6.3.1 – Anatomy of a Long Bone: A typical long bone showing gross anatomical features. The wider section at each end of the bone is called the epiphysis (plural = epiphyses), which is filled internally with spongy bone, another type of osseous tiss...

There are three types of cartilage in your body. Cartilage does everything from helping your joints move smoothly to absorbing impacts. Your nose and ears are made of cartilage. Cartilage damage is one of the most common results of sports injuries and other traumas. How long it takes to recover depends on Overview The three types of cartilage in your body are hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage and fibrocartilage. What is cartilage? Cartilage is a strong, flexible connective tissue that protects your joints and bones. It acts as a shock absorber throughout your body. Cartilage at the end of your bones reduces friction and prevents them from rubbing together when you use your joints. It’s also the main tissue in some parts of your body and gives them their structure and shape. Damage to your cartilage can happen suddenly — like a sports injury or other trauma — but it can also build up over the course of your life and lead to osteoarthritis. Anything that injures or damages your cartilage can make it hard or impossible to use your joints the way you’re used to. Function What does cartilage do? Cartilage protects your bones and joints. It surrounds the ends of your bones and cushions the spaces in your joints where bones meet. Cartilage has three jobs: • Absorbing shock: Cartilage cushions your bones and joints when you move and use them. It absorbs force and reduces how much stress an impact puts on your bones. Think about the difference between jumping up and down in bare...

The skeleton is the body's frame. It provides the foundation to which other structures cling and helps to create our shape. All 206 of the bones of the skeleton can be categorized into four types: long, short, flat, and irregular. Each type of bone serves a particular purpose and some types have more than one function. Diaphysis The diaphysis is the shaft of the long bone, the main body. The diaphysis is a tube with a hollow center called the medullary cavity (or marrow cavity). The wall of the diaphysis is made up of compact bone, which is dense and very hard. For most of the life of a long bone, the center of the diaphysis is filled with yellow bone marrow. Yellow bone marrow is basically fat, also known as adipose tissue. Epiphysis Each end of a long bone is called an epiphysis. Each epiphysis is shaped to fit its connecting bone at a junction that is called a joint and the shape of the epiphysis is based on the job of the joint. The proximal (closer to the body) epiphysis of the humerus and the proximal epiphysis of the femur are shaped in a rounded manner, called the head, and look a bit like half of a ball. This shape allows those two long bones to rotate in multiple directions. The head of the femur fits into a socket in the pelvis. The head of the humerus fits into a socket in the shoulder. That type of joint is called a ball-and-socket joint. Joints that only allow movement along one axis are called hinge joints. The wall of the epiphysis is made of compact bone l...

Next to the tibia is the fibula, the thinner, weaker bone of the lower leg. It is also known as the calf bone, as it sits slightly behind the tibia on the outside of the leg. The fibula is connected via ligaments to the two ends of the tibia. The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, is at the center of the knee. It aids in knee extension and protects the joint. As the knee bends, the patella slides along a groove in the femur. Below the tibia and fibula are seven bones known as the tarsals. These make up the ankle and upper portion of the foot. The seven tarsal bones are: • Calcaneus: The largest bone of the foot, it is commonly referred to as the heel of the foot. • Talus: This bone creates the lower portion of the ankle joint. • Cuboid: This multisurface bone sits on the outside of the foot near the fifth phalange (little toe). • Cuneiforms: These three small bones are closest to the five metatarsal bones. They sit in a row beginning at the inside of the foot and end at the cuboid. • Navicular: This curved bone sits between the talus and cuneiforms. The five metatarsal bones in each foot create the body of the foot. Numbered one through five, the bone that sits behind the big toe is No. 1 and the one behind the little toe is No. 5. The phalanges make up the toes. Each toe consists of three separate bones and two joints, except for the big toe, which only has two bones and one joint like the thumb in the hand. The three toe bones include the distal phalanges at the tip...