Functions of the Skeletal System

¶ … Functions of the Skeletal System

When one thinks about the skeletal system, the function of support is the first thing that comes to mind. However, the skeletal system serves other functions as well. It supplies a place for muscles to attach to allow for movement. It serves to protect the soft tissue from harm. It serves as a storage reservoir for minerals. It is also the place where hemopoeisis takes occurs. The following will explore these five important functions in greater detail.

The first function of the skeletal system is to provide support for the body. Without our skeletal system, we would be little more blobs of tissue on the ground. The purpose of support is the most obvious function of the skeletal system. The skeletal system also allows us to move. Muscles attach to bones, much like a set of pulleys to help us move our skeletal system. This complex system allows us to move and perform the many tasks that comprise our daily lives.

The skeletal system also protects soft tissues. The skeleton is divided into tow major sections. The upper portion is called the axial skeleton and consists of the skull, spinal column, ribs, breastbone, and hyoid bone. The lower portion is called the appendicular skeleton and includes the upper extremities, lower extremities, hips, and pelvis. Without the skeleton vital organs would be vulnerable.

Minerals that are necessary for a number of other functions are stored in the bones such as calcium and phosphorus. The skeletal system helps to regulate release of these substances into the blood system, assuring that a future supply is available when needed. The skeletal system is also important in hemopoeisis, the production of blood cells.

The skeletal system serves many functions other than support. It is an important part of the chemical reactions that make up the human anatomy. As one can see, the skeletal system performs many vital functions within the body.

Scenario Analysis

Julie is mountain climbing with a group of friends when she slips, falls, and bumps the left side of her head on a rock. She gets up slowly, and is dazed but otherwise appears unhurt. She feels able to proceed, and the climb continues. An hour later, Julie gets a severe headache and experiences a ringing in her ears. She starts having trouble speaking, and soon loses consciousness. Before medical personnel can reach the scene, Julie dies. What was the likely cause of the death?

The most likely cause of death was a concussion caused by the blow to the head. Julie exhibits one of the key first signs of a concussive blow; she is dazed when she gets up. Her slow movement is another sign that the blow was not as minor as she thought. Concussions are graded according to severity. A grade 0 shows only a headache and difficulty concentrating. A grade 1 shows a dazed feeling lasting less than a minute. Grade 2 concussion symptoms last much longer and include cloudy senses. From the description, Julie's concussion would be a Grade 1. The symptoms of a concussion are not always immediate, sometimes appearing as much as days or weeks after the injury occurred.

Any brain injury is serious and Julie should not have continued the climb. Seeking immediate medical attention as soon as the injury occurred may have saved Julie's life. The severe headache and ringing in her ears is another sign that the bump on the head was not so light, but still consistent with a Grade 1 concussion. Although Julie did not lose consciousness, she still had the key signs of a concussion.

The treatment of a concussion includes rest and inactivity. Aspirin should be avoided, as it may contribute to continued internal bleeding. Continuing the hike may have caused Julie's blood pressure to remain high, contributing to the inability of her body to form clots at the injury points. The onset of severe headache was a sign that things had become critical. Julie's life may have been saved had the severity of the injury been recognized from the beginning and had she been made to rest until help arrived.

Scenario 2

You are at a friend's outdoor barbecue on a hot summer day. One friend, who is drinking beer and sweating profusely, begins to complain of a headache and indigestion; suddenly faints. What has happened? How could you determine if this was a life-threatening condition? Did the beer play a role in his collapse?

In this scenario, it is difficult to determine if the alcohol played a role in the collapse. There are several pieces of information that are missing, which would be helpful in determining the severity and possible causes of the collapse. First, we do not know how much he has been drinking. We do not know if the symptoms were there before he started drinking. This may be his first drink and the symptoms may have been there before. We also do not know if he has been drinking enough water throughout the day. There are simply too many unknowns to make a definite choice in this case.