1. BONES AND JOINTS Basic Anatomy

2. The Skeleton The average human adult skeleton has 206 bones joined to ligaments and tendons Forms a protective and supportive framework for the attached muscles and the soft tissues which underlie it. Minor differences between male and female skeletons: men's bones tend to be larger and heavier than corresponding women's bones, and a woman's pelvic cavity is wider to accommodate childbirth.

3. AXIAL SKELETON The axial skeleton consists of the skull, the spine, the ribs and the sternum (breastbone) and includes 80 bones. It forms the basic structure from which the rest of the skeleton is supported

4. APPENDICULAR SKELETON The appendicular skeleton includes two limb girdles (the shoulders and pelvis) and their attached limb bones. This part of the skeletal system contains 126 bones, 64 in the shoulders and upper limbs and 62 in the pelvis and lower limbs

5. SKELETAL FUNCTION The skeleton plays an important part in movement by providing a series of independently movable levers, which the muscles can pull to move different parts of the body It supports and protects the internal body organs It is an efficient factory which produces red blood cells from the bone marrow of certain bones and white cells from the marrow of other bones The bones are also a storehouse for minerals - calcium, for example - which can be supplied to other parts of the body

6. JOINTS Joints permit bodily movement and are held together by fibres called "ligaments". Some joints, like those in the skull, allow no movement. Others may permit only limited movement: for example the joints in the spine allow some movement in several directions. Moveable joints are continuously lubricated to prevent friction. These joints have a variable range of movement, and these are called "synovial" joints.

7. JOINTS Joints are sturdy enough to hold the skeleton together while permitting a range of motions. Joints are lubricated by "synovial" fluid. The ends of these joints are coated with articular (or hyaline) cartilage, which reduces friction and cushions against jolts. Between the bones, in a narrow space, is the joint "cavity," which gives us freedom of movement. Ligaments then bind these bones to prevent dislocations and limit the joint's movements.

8. Joint Types 1: Ball and Socket The greatest range of joint movement is provided by a "ball- and- socket" joint, in which the spherical head of one bone lodges in the spherical cavity of another

9. Joint Types 2: Hinge The simplest type of joint is the "hinge," as found in the elbows and the joints of the fingers and toes. Hinge joints allow movement in only one direction. Elbow

10. Joint Types 3: Pivot A pivot joint allows two bones to move in a rotational motion by twisting against each other The radio-ulnar joint in the elbow, or atlas/axis in the neck do this

11. Joint Types 4: Gliding Gliding" joints permit a wide range of mostly sideways movements - as well as movements in one direction The bones in the wrists and ankles slide against each other in a gliding motion The spine is a series of gliding joints

12. Joint Types 5: Condyloid In a "condyloid joint" (ellipsoidal), an ovoid condyle of one bone fits into an elliptical cavity of another bone This type of joint permits a variety of movements in different planes; rotating movement, however, is not possible.

13. Joint Types 6: Saddle Joint A "saddle" joint is more versatile than either a hinge joint or a gliding joint. It allows movement in two directions. The saddle joint gives the human thumb the ability to "cross over" the palm of the hand.

14. The Spine The spine is a column of bone and cartilage that extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis. It encloses and protects the spinal cord and supports the trunk of the body and the head. The spine is made up of approximately thirty-three bones called "vertebrae." Each pair of vertebrae is connected by a joint which stabilizes the vertebral column and allows it to move. Between them is a disc-shaped pad of fibrous cartilage with a jelly-like core, which is called the "intervertebral" disk These discs cushion the vertebrae during movement.

16. Vertebrae A typical vertebra has a drum-shaped "body" that forms a thick, anterior portion of the bone. A longitudinal row of the bodies supports the weight of the head and trunk. The intervertebral disks, which separate joining vertebrae, are fastened to the roughened upper and lower surfaces of the bodies. Anterior View

17. Spinal Structure The spine has 3 major sections: Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Below the lumbar spine is a bone called the sacrum, which is part of the pelvis). There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and 5 lumbar vertebrae

18. Joint movement: Flexion When two bones move towards each other, the action is known as FLEXION This would occur for example with bending of the elbow or knee

19. Joint movement: Extension When two bones move away from each other, the action is known as EXTENSION This would occur for example with straightening of the elbow or knee

20. Joint movement: Abduction When a joint moves away from the vertical centreline of the body, it is known as abduction. This movement occurs when the arm is raised to one side

21. Joint movement: Adduction When a joint moves towards the vertical centreline of the body, it is known as adduction. This movement occurs when the arm is lowered

22. Joint movement: Rotation This occurs when a bone rotates, either in a socket or relative to another bone. It can occur at ball & socket or gliding type joints Lowering (blue arrow) is internal rotation. Raising is external

23. Joint movement: Circumduction Ball and Socket joints can move in many directions. This diagram shows the movement possible at the hip Greater movement is possible at the shoulder joint

24. Joint movement: Supination This movement occurs when either the palm or sole of the foot is rotated and turned inwards In the case of the foot, this can also be referred to as inversion

25. Joint movement: Pronation This movement occurs when either the palm or sole of the foot is rotated and turned outwards In the case of the foot, this can also be referred to as eversion

26. Joint movement: General For all joints except the knee and elbow Forward movement is flexion Rearward movement is extension