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Skeletal system: part four--the appendicular skeleton.
1South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service, Australia.
Nursing Times
|March 6, 2007
Summary
This article details the appendicular skeleton, comprising the limbs and girdles. It includes 126 bones that attach to the axial skeleton.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Osteology
- Human Biology
Background:
- The appendicular skeleton is a crucial component of the human body's structural framework.
- Understanding its components is essential for comprehending limb and girdle function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the appendicular skeleton.
- To define its constituent parts and their relationship to the axial skeleton.
Main Methods:
- Review of anatomical literature.
- Exploration of etymological origins of the term 'appendicular skeleton'.
Main Results:
- The appendicular skeleton consists of the four limbs and the pectoral and pelvic girdles.
- It comprises a total of 126 bones.
- The term 'appendicular' relates to its function of hanging onto the main body.
Conclusions:
- The appendicular skeleton facilitates movement and support.
- Its structure is integral to the overall skeletal system.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Overview of the Axial Skeleton
The skeleton is subdivided into two major divisions—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body. It includes all of the bones of the head, neck, chest, and back. It protects the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. It also serves as the attachment site for muscles that move the head, neck, and back and for muscles that act across the shoulder and hip joints to move their corresponding limbs.
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Skeletal muscles, the key players in our body's movement, can be classified into two groups based on their location and function: axial muscles and appendicular muscles. These classifications reflect the primary roles the muscles play in the body's structure and movement.
Axial Muscles
Axial muscles, situated along the body's midline, are intricately connected to the axial skeleton, which includes the skull, spine, ribs, and sternum. These muscles facilitate facial expressions and play a...
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01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
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01:12Regional Terms
Regional terms describe anatomy by dividing the body parts into different regions that contain structures involved in contributing similar functions. Using these terms helps increase the accurate description and identification of the particular region of interest or region affected by the disease.
Primarily, the human body has two major regions, the axial and appendicular regions. The axial region comprises regions from the head to the abdomen and makes up the central body axis. In contrast,...
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01:20Introduction to the Skeletal System
The skeletal system is the central framework of the body, consisting of different connective tissues: bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
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Bone, or osseous tissue, is a hard connective tissue that forms an internal support structure for the human body. Bones shield vulnerable organs and soft tissue from external forces. For example, the vertebral bones protect and support the spinal cord.
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