THE FRAMEWORK OF THE BODY. 19 



6. The Skeleton. The number of bones in the human 

 body exceeds two hundred. When these are joined together 

 in the proper places, they form what is termed the Skeleton 

 (Fig. 3). It embraces three important cavities. The first, 

 surmounting the frame, is a box of bone, called the skull; 

 below this, is a bony case, or " chest ;" anl lower down is 

 a bony basin, called the pelvis. The two latter compose 

 the trunk. The trunk and skull are maintained in their 

 proper relations by the " spinal column/' Branching from 

 the trunk are two sets of limbs: the arms, which are 

 attached to the chest by means of the " collar-bone" and 

 " shoulder-blade ;" and the legs, directly joined to the lower 

 part of the trunk. 



7. The cavities of which we have spoken, are designed 

 for the lodgment* and protection of the more delicate and 

 perishable parts of the system. Thus, the skull, together 

 with the bones of the face, shelters the brain and the 

 organs of four senses sight, hearing, smell, and taste. 

 The chest contains the heart, lungs, and great blood-ves- 

 sels, while the lower part of the trunk sustains the liver, 

 stomach, and other organs 



8. The Joints. The point of union of two or more 

 bones forms a joint or articulation, the connection being 

 made in various ways according to the kind and amount 

 of motion desired. The movable joints are compacted 

 together by certain strong fibrous bands, called ligaments. 

 These ligaments are of a shining, silvery whiteness, and 

 very unyielding; so much so, that when sudden violence 

 is brought to bear in the vicinity of a joint, the bone to 

 which a ligament is attached may be broken, while the 

 ligament itself remains uninjured. When this connect- 

 ing material of the joints is strained or lacerated by an ac- 



6. Number of bones? Skeleton? The skull ? Chest? The trunk ? The trunk 

 and skull, how maintained ? What of the arms ? Legs ? 



7. Design of the cavities ? Give the examples. 



8. Joint or articulation ? Movable joints, how compacted? The ligaments of 

 the movable joints ? What is a sprain ? Consequence of a serious sprain ? 



