Biology: Mammalian Skeleton – Summary and Main Ideas

Summary

• There are three types of skeletons:
  1. Hydrostatic skeleton
  2. Endoskeleton
  3. Exoskeleton
• When animals moved from water to land, there was a need for the development of strong limbs and a skeleton to provide support to the bodies, which had previously been provided by water.
• Humans have an endoskeleton consisting of:
  1. Axial skeleton (cranium, facial bones, foramen magnum, palate and jaws, vertebral column, rib cage and breastbone/sternum)
  2. Appendicular skeleton (pectoral girdle with arms and pelvic girdle with legs)
• Functions of the human skeleton are:
  1. Movement
  2. Protection
  3. Support
  4. Storage of minerals
  5. Hearing
• The tissues associated with the human skeleton are bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments.
• Joints

  A joint is formed when two or more bones come into contact.

  There are three types of joints:

  1. Immovable joints
  2. Partly movable joints
  3. Synovial joints (Hinge joints, ball and socket joints, pivot joints, gliding joints)
• Human locomotion requires the use and coordination of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and antagonistic muscles.
• Muscles

  There are three types of muscle tissue:

  1. Smooth/involuntary
  2. Skeletal/voluntary
  3. Cardiac muscle

  Myofibrils are responsible for muscle contraction.

• There are many diseases that affect the skeleton, such as rickets, osteoporosis and arthritis.