CEHE MED280 Week 2 Assessment Latest 2020 April

MED280 Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Week  2 Assessment

Functions, Identification, and Diseases and Treatments of the Skeletal System

Question 1

Background

The human skeletal system is an intricate puzzle, consisting of 206 bones. The skeletal system does more than merely give the body its shape—which alone is an impressive function. With the help of connective cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, the skeletal system also allows movement, protects vital organs and tissue, assists in producing blood cells, stores and releases fat, and stores calcium. All these functions are crucial to the body’s survival.

Consider your ribs, skull, and backbone. Your heart and lungs are protected by your ribs, your skull protects your brain, and your spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae running down your back. Without these important parts of your skeletal system, your heart, lungs, brain, and spinal cord would be much more susceptible to irreplaceable—and possibly fatal—damage.

Resources and References

Zimmermann, K. A. (2018, March 16). Skeletal System: Facts, Function & Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/22537-skeletal-system.html (Links to an external site.)

Question

Your skeletal system is responsible for many vital functions in your body. Select the function that the skeletal system is not responsible for.

Produces blood cells

  Promotes voluntary and involuntary bodily actions

  Provides support for the body

  Protects vital organs

 

Question 2

Background

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that causes bone thinning, leading to weaker bones and an increased risk of fractures. This condition especially affects the hips, spine, and wrists. Osteoporosis is most commonly diagnosed only after a fracture occurs.

Over 25 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis, with 80% of those affected being women. There are many risk factors that might lead to or indicate osteoporosis, such as eating disorders, advanced age, thyroid disease, low calcium intake, family genetics, and lack of exercise.

The earlier a patient is diagnosed with osteoporosis, the better. Diagnostic procedures may include an X-ray of the finger or wrist, an ultrasound of the heel, or a CAT scan of the spine. Another diagnostic test is a bone density scan called DEXA, or Dual Energy X-Ray Absorption Test. DEXA can detect osteoporosis earlier than standard X-rays, but it can be expensive because many insurance providers do not cover this test.

Patients with osteoporosis have a variety of treatments that might be prescribed to them. Medications used to treat osteoporosis may include estrogens, bone formation agents, and parathyroid hormones, among others. The purpose of these types of drugs is to slow bone loss, encourage bone growth, and minimalize the risk of fractures. Other things that can help prevent osteoporosis are proper nutrition, exercise, and eliminating factors like smoking and excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption.

Resources and References

Eustice, C. (2019, March 12). Osteoporosis Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention. Retrieved from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-osteoporosis-188275 (Links to an external site.)

Question

What symptom(s) might patients with osteoporosis experience?

Stomach pain

  Shortness of breath

  Light-headedness

  Thin, brittle bones

 

Question 3

Background

There are two divisions of the skeletal system in the human body—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton is made up of 80 bones, while the appendicular skeleton features 126 bones. The vertebral column, rib cage, and skull are all part of the axial skeleton system, among others. They are responsible for balancing the weight from the head down to the rest of the body. This allows humans to control their bodies and remain in a vertical posture. Furthermore, the bones in the axial system protect the heart, lungs, spinal cord, and brain. The appendicular system includes bones found in the upper and lower limbs and the pectoral and pelvic bones. Bones in the appendicular skeletal system enable movements like walking and running. Additionally, they protect the organs in the digestive and reproductive systems.

Resources and References

Zimmermann, K. A. (2018, March 16). Skeletal System: Facts, Function & Diseases. Retrieved from: https://www.livescience.com/22537-skeletal-system.html

Question

The appendicular skeletal system is responsible for many vital functions in the human body. Select the function that the appendicular skeletal system is not responsible for.

  Protects organs like the stomach

  Enables movement like running and walking

  Protects organs like the long intestine

  Distributes the weight of the head throughout the rest of the body

 

Question 4

Background

Approximately 400 joints can be found throughout the body, and they serve to connect two or more bones. The main function or role of joints within the body is to permit movement. Some joints, however, allow no movement, while others allow some movement, and still others move freely. Joints can be classified by their function or by their structure (usually by the connective tissue). There are three major functional joints and three major structural joints.

Functional Joints. Functional joints can fall into one of the following three categories:

Synarthrosis joints. These are immovable joints that are made of fibrous tissue and can be found in the skull bones.

Amphiarthrosis joints. These are slightly moveable joints that are made of cartilage and can be found in the spine.

Diarthrosis joints. These joints, also called synovial joints, can move freely and can be found in the joints in the knees and hips.

These synovial joints can be categorized by the joint’s structure and the type of movement it allows. The types of synovial joints include gliding joints, hinge joints, pivot joints, condylar joints, saddle joints, and ball-and-socket joints.

Resources and References

Schmidler, C. (2019, January 25). Health Pages. Retrieved from: https://www.healthpages.org/anatomy-function/musculoskeletal-system-bones-joints-cartilage-ligaments/ (Links to an external site.)

Question

Which type of joint is unmovable and can be found in the skull bones?

  Synarthrosis joints

  Diarthrosis joints

  Synovial joints

  Amphiarthrosis joints

 

Question 5

Background

With over 400 joints in the body, it is important to understand the different types of joints and their role within the skeletal system. There are functional joints and structural joints, and each type has three sub-types.

Structural joints.

Fibrous joints. These joints, held together by fibrous connective tissue, allow little to no movement and include the sutures in the skull.

Cartilaginous joints. These joints, held together by cartilage, allow slightly more movement than fibrous joints and can be found in the long bones.

Synovial joints. These joints, mostly found in our arms and legs, allow the most movement. Between the connected bones is a space or cavity with synovial fluid, which is the lubricant that allows for free movement and reduces friction. There are many types of synovial joints:

Gliding: These joints are flat or slightly curved and allow for gliding movements. They only provide limited movement, and examples include the joints in the hand’s carpal bones and the foot’s tarsal bones.

Hinge: These joints are slightly rounded at one end so they can fit into the end of another bone. Not unlike a door hinge, examples of a hinge joint include knees and elbows.

Pivot: These joints are rounded, allowing for swiveling movements. An example of a pivot joint is the joint in the neck that allows the head to swivel back and forth, from side to side. Another example is the joints in the wrist that allows the hand to turn up and down.

Condyloid: These joints, found in the fingers, are oval-shaped on one end to fit into another bone’s hollow space. These joints allow for side-to-side and up-and-down movements.

Saddle: These joints, named because they resemble a horse’s saddle, have concave and convex shapes that meet together. These joints allow for back-and-forth as well as up-and-down movements. An example of a saddle joint is the joint in the thumb, as demonstrated by its greater range in motion than the wrist or other fingers.

Ball-and-socket: These joints, which are rounded on one end to fit into another bone’s socket, allow the most movement in all directions. The joints in the shoulders and hips are examples of ball-and-socket joints.

Resources and References

Schmidler, C. (2019, January 25). Health Pages. Retrieved from: https://www.healthpages.org/anatomy-function/musculoskeletal-system-bones-joints-cartilage-ligaments/ (Links to an external site.)

Question

There are many types of synovial joints in the skeletal system. Which synovial joint allows for the greatest range in motion?

 Condyloid

  Ball-and-socket

  Saddle

  Pivot