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.
