CHAPTER V 



OSTEOLOGY THE DESCRIPTION OF BONES 

 AND BONE TISSUE 



THE bones entering into the supportive structure 

 of the body are held in close relation with each other 

 by means of ligaments and muscles. Thus the skeleton 

 consists of a strong, firm frame-work, possessing all 

 manner of movements due to the action of the attached 

 muscles and the leverage of the bones, allowed by the 

 ligaments holding the bones in relation with one 

 another. The body skeleton consists of two hundred 

 and six bones, as follows: 



[Vertebral column 26 



Axial 1 Skull 22 



skeleton ] Hyoid bone 1 



[Ribs and sternum 25 



74 



Appendicular f Upper limb 64 



skeleton \Lower limb 62 



126 



Auditory ossicles (bones of ear) 6 



Total 206 



The patellae, two in number, are included in this 

 list, but not the sesamoid bones. The latter are small 

 bones (shaped like sesame seed) found embedded in 

 tendons covering the knee, hand, and foot. 



Classes of Bones. Bones are divisible into four 

 classes: long, short, flat, and irregular. 



Long Bones. These are found in the limbs, they 

 support the weight of the trunk and form a system of 



