Bones, joints and cartilage are all important to proper function of the skeletal system. Bones provide the main structure and stability, while joints provide the necessary junctions between bones that allow us to move. However, like most parts of our bodies, disease can run rampant. Bone diseases can vary from arthritis to actual degradation of the bone. It is important to look at and research how these components of our skeleton are structured and their specific functions so we can take care of our bodies properly and maintain optimal functions
Bone is so important the human body. Not only does it provide a structure system, but it gives our muscles a surface to contract upon so that we can move as well. The structure of bone tissue is also important because it needs to be made up of the proper material to be strong and durable while also being lightweight. The stiffer bone known as cortical bone is one that responds slowly to changes in loads while cancellous bone has a higher metabolic activity and larger surface area. (Buckwalter, JA, 1987) Bone composition depends on the cell type and the cell type depends on the locations. There are four types of bone cells: osteoprogenitor cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts. Osteocytes and osteoblasts are very similar, however, osteoblasts develop from undifferentiated cells and osteocytes are formed from osteoblasts. From a separate stem cell line called blood-borne monocytes, osteoclasts are formed. (Buckwalter, 1987) Knowing how bone is formed and the different types of cells that make up different portions of bone can help in aiding with treatments of bone diseases
Joints also play an important role in everyday life. Everything from typing to running a marathon is possible because of the mechanics of joints. There are different types of joints and the design of each joint is dependent on the function, such as those that provide stability and those that provide mobility have different designs. The complexity of each design can be contributed to the range of functional demands, for example, the more varied the demands of the joint, the more complex it is. Man-made designs of joints are far less complex than actual human joints because they serve many functions in the human body. (Levangie, Pamela K, Norkin, Cynthia C, 2011)
Another big component of the skeletal system is cartilage. Cartilage is connective tissue that connects bone to bone in joints. There are different types of cartilage, one important one being articular cartilage. This type of cartilage is very important for insuring a smooth lubricated surface for articulation and facilitation of transmission of loads with a load frictional coefficient. This type of cartilage does not have blood vessels, lymphatic and nerves and is the most subject to harsh biomechanics environments. If it is damage, there is a limited capacity for healing itself which can mean serious effects on the person if such damage occurs. There are three zones of articular cartilage and each zone is composed of three individual regions. The superficial zone protects the deeper layers from stress and makes up a very small percentage of the cartilage. The middle zone provides an anatomic and functional bridge between the superficial and deep layer and this makes up anywhere from forty to sixty percent of cartilage. Th deep zone provides the most resistance to compressive forces due to the collagen fibrils being arranged perpendicular to the surface. (Sophia Fox, Alice J., 2009)
Bone disease can be very dangerous, depending on what exactly is going on. One disease that can be very serious is Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. This disease usually presents itself in children aged three to twelve and is three to five times more common in boys than girls. This disorder can be bilateral but is very rare if it does, only consisting of ten to twenty percent of cases. What happens with this disease is the blood flow to the femoral head is obstructed due to some cause, which can be a traumatic event. When the blood supply is cut off, the femoral head begins to die and break apart, which results in a shortening of the bone and disturbance of the growth plate. (Wenger D.R., 1991) Children with this disorder develop a limp and treatments can vary from person to person depending on how severe the disease has become. Unknown to doctors, this disease miraculously reverses itself with treatment.
Another disease of the bone is osteoarthritis. This disease is one of over use and comes with aging in those that work in jobs that require heavy labor (seen in the knee) or comes secondary to developmental defects (seen in the hip). (Felson, David, 1988) Knee osteoarthritis is more common than hip osteoarthritis, however, these are the most common out of all of these. There are plenty of factors that put one at risk for this disease, but daily wear normally doesn't lead to this. Manual labor, heavy lifting that includes bending at the knee is one of the most common factors that cause osteoarthritis of the knee. Genetics and family history. can also play a role in developing this disorder
In conclusion, we can see based off of the evidence presented that the structure of bones, joints and cartilage is very important for their ability to function properly. Joints must have a specific complexity to perform the tasks required, bones must be made up of the proper components to ensure maximum durability while maintaining a light weight, and cartilage must provide a smooth, lubricated surface to allow joints to move easily and limit strain. Bone disease can vary from overuse to bone death due to cutting off of the blood supply. All bone diseases are very serious and can cause lifelong pain and struggle.