THE HUMAN SKELETAL SYSTEM

The skeletal system is made up of all the bones and joints in the body. The skeleton acts as a scaffold that provides support and protection the soft tissues that make up the body. It further provides attachment for muscles to allow movements at the joints. Bones also act as the warehouse for calcium, iron and energy (stored as fat). It also provides a framework for the body to grow along with it.

The skeletal system in an ault is made up of 206 individual bones. The bones are arranged into two:

• Axial Skeleton- Runs along the body’s midline. It consists of 80 bones. Found in the following regions

1. Skull
2. Hyoid
3. Auditory ossicles
4. Ribs
5. Sternum
6. Vertebral column.

• Appendicular Skeleton is made up of 126 bones in the following regions:

1. Upper limbs
2. Lower Limbs
3. Pelvic Girdle
4. Pectoral girdle.

SKULL

The Skull is made up of 22 bones that are fused together except for the mandible
In children the bones are not fused to allow for the growth of the brain. The mandible is the only moveable part of the skull.

The bones at the top of the skull are known as the cranium and serve to protect the brain. The bones that protect the eyes, nose and mouth are known as inferior and anterior bones.

 
Hyoid 

The hyoid is the only bone that does not form a joint with any other bone. It is essentially a floating bone. It helps to hold the trachea open and to form a bony connection for the tongue muscles.

 
Auditory Ossicles

The auditory Ossicles are the smallest bones in the body. The auditory ossicles is made up of: Malleus, incus and staples. The auditory ossicles transmit and amplify sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.

 
Vertebrae

The Vertebrae Column is made up of twenty-six Vertebrae. They are named by  region:

• Cervical (neck)- 7 Vertebrae
• Thoracic (chest)- 12 Vertebrae
• Lumbar (Lower back)- 5 Vertebrae
• Sacrum- 1 Vertebrae
• Coccyx (tailbone)- 1 Vertebrae

Except for the Sacrum and Coccyx, each Vertebrae is named by the first letter of the region and its position e.g. T1 (first Vertebrae in the Thoracic region).

 
Ribs and Sternum

The Sternum is a thin, knife-shaped bone located in the midline section of thoracic region of the skeleton. It connects the ribs by think bands of cartilage called the costal cartilage

For more on the Body Systems buy our Nursing Anatomy eBook. This eBook covers the following body systems: Cardiovascular system, digestive system, muscular system and skeletal system. it comes with detailed diagrams and indepth descriptions. it also covers the diseases that affect these systems.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FYJC88E?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Student humor

PRANK CALL CAUSES A NURSE TO COMMIT SUICIDE

Jacinta Saldanha, 46, A night Sister at Edward VII Hospital in London committed suicide after receiving a prank call from two DJs living in Australia pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and William's father. They elicited information from the hospital about Prince William's wife Kate who was in the hospital suffering from morning sickness.

The information and its eventual broadcast elicited a furor in the media and a backlash concerning revealing a patient's information. the media furor caused the Indian Born sister who was the most senior person at the hospital much anguish resulting in her committing suicide.

In an inquest that followed, the two DJs apologized for their insensitivity and lack for foresight.

Saldanha's family and friends were shocked by the suicide saying she was happy and jovial earlier in the day.

This goes to show the pressures health care workers go through and the need to seek counselling if things seem overwhelming

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, killed herself 3 days after she fell for a prank phone call that resulted in another nurse disclosing details of the Duchess of Cambridge's condition.

SEE ALSO:

5 MUST HAVE NURSING TOOLS

5 WEIRD NURSING RULES

YOU CAN'T BE AN OVERWEIGHT NURSE IN JAPAN

While in the USA a lot of facilities encourage a healthy lifestyle for their workers, some even going as far as developing programs like the 'biggest loser' accompanied by prizes and even bonuses in Japan obesity in the healthcare is not just frowned down on it's written into the rules.

In 2008, the Japanese Government decided its citizens had to slim down to reduce chances of developing diseases associated with obesity.

To enforce these rules, the Government initiated a 'maximum allowable waistline' for females and males. Those who fail these stringent rule are given a period to lose weight, failure to lose the required weight during this period they are given a dietary guidance and a period of six months to drop pound. After this probationary period they receive counseling and more guidance.

2. YOU MIGHT NOT GET PAID OVERTIME FOR OVERTIME WORK

In most States Overtime pay (Time and a half) is supposed to kick in if one works more than 8 hours a day or more than 40 hours a week, well not always so. If you are a Nurse who works 12 hr shifts your overtime does not kick in after your initial 8 hours of work. It will kick in only after you go over your 40 hours of work!

3. YOU HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORM IN WALES

You fancy the relaxed way you go to work? In Wales you wont wear your Polo t-shirt or khaki pants or those fancy scrubs with all types of designs on them, a simple badge announcing you as a nurse over casual wear wont suffice. In Wales you have to wear uniform and it is color coded.

All Uniform is standardized and falls in the following categories:

• Charge nurses wear navy blue
• Clinical Nurse specialists wear royal blue
• Staff nurses wear Postman blue
• Healthcare support wear green.
• Nursery nurses wear aqua green

4. YOU GOTTA SAY 'PLEASE'

If You are working over the weekend in a hospital in West sussex, England, you can ignore a doctor's order for blood tests if the doctor doesn't write 'please' on the requisition.

5. YOU CAN'T GET PREGNANT IN THE UAE IF YOU ARE A SINGLE NURSE

Thought it was difficult getting a date working night shifts and odd hours as a Nurse, don't dare get pregnant before marriage if you land that elusive boyfriend in the United Arab Emirates. You either have to get married to the father, jailed or deported.

SEE ALSO: Mercy Killings, right or wrong?

SEE ALSO: Nurse Specialties

Question of the day

The nurse is taking the health history of a patient being treated for Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. After being told the patient has been smoking cigarettes for 30 years, the nurse expects to note which assessment finding?

 1. Increase in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
 2. A narrowed chest cavity
 3. Clubbed fingers
 4. An increased risk of cardiac failure

Question of the day

These results in an accellerated mental function, sensitivity to heat and/or soft hair A.)Hyponatremia B.)S&S treatment C.)Graves disease D.)Myxedema