Skeletal System in brief

 SKELETAL SYSTEM

The 206 bones that make up your skeleton are dynamic, living organs. Together they form a framework for your body that provides structure and protection, and has the ability to move.

The bones are made of collagen and they store calcium, a mineral that makes them strong and is vital for bodily functions. They also contain bone marrow where blood cells are produced. Bones form joints, which are supported by cartilage and structures such as ligaments.

Skull- These fused plates of bone protect your brain.

Clavicle-Also called the collarbone, it connects your scapulae and sternum

Sternum- Also called the breastbone, it connects your ribs.

Ribs -The 12 pairs of bones that form your ribcage

Pelvis- Two hip bones connected by your sacrum

Carpals Eight small bones form each wrist

Metacarpals Five long bones run through each palm and Five long bones that run through your foot

Phalanges Each hand has 14 bones forming your finger. The 14 bones in each foot that form your toe

Patella- Also called the kneecap, it is attached to your quadriceps tendon

Tarsals The seven small bones that form your ankle

Vertebral column A series of bony disks that form your spine

Scapula The shoulder blade connects torso and arm

Humerus This bone connects your scapula and forearm

Ulna- Forearm bone that runs to your little finger 

Radius Forearm bone that runs to your thumb

Sacrum This bone is the keystone of your pelvis

Femur Your thighbone is the longest bone in your body 

Tibia You can feel the edge of your shinbone under your skin 

Fibula Thin bone that sits on the outside of your leg 

Calcaneus Your heel bone attaches to your Achilles tendon

SPINE- Your vertebrae sit on top of each other to create natural curves. This is called a “neutral spine.” It alternates between curving inward (lordosis) and outward (kyphosis) to absorb shock like a coiled spring. Your vertebrae are like wedges stacked to form these curves in order to bear your body weight most efficiently

Ligaments- (Ligament attaches bone to bone)- Bones are connected by dense fibers called ligaments. Both ligaments and tendons have very little elasticity, meaning, if you overstretch them in an asana, they often don’t go back to their resting length and lose stability.

Tendons- Tendons are tough cords of dense connective tissue attaching muscle to bone. As bundles of parallel collagen fibers, they have little elasticity or blood flow. In general, you want to stretch muscles, not tendons.

Cartilage- Hyaline articular cartilage lines bones at most joints and is smoother than glass—it even looks like stained glass under a microscope. However, when this cartilage wears down, it can become coarse like sandpaper, causing a condition called osteoarthritis.