Conditions & Disorders of the Skeletal System
Introductory Note:
Knowledge of the structure and function of bones and
aspects of skeletal system generally are essential parts
of training in human biology, medicine and associated
health sciences. This page is intended to include the
detail required for most Basic / First Level Courses
in many therapies, and some ITEC Diplomas.
This page is divided into the
following sections:
- Types of Fractures
and their causes - see also types of fractures
- Postural Deformities
see also curvature of the spine
- Other Skeletal Conditions
and their causes and effects.
1. Types of Fractures (and their causes)
A fracture is breakage of a bone,
this breakage may be complete or incomplete.
The following table summarises six common types
of fracture. For more detail see the page about types of fractures.
See also pathological fractures.
2. Postural Deformities
3. Other Skeletal Conditions (and their causes and effects)
Condition |
|
Cause  |
|
Effect |
|
| Arthritis |
|
Over 200 diseases
may cause arthritis, including: |
|
Swelling,
warmth, redness of the overlying
skin, pain, restriction of motion. |
| Inflammation
of one or more joints |
|
osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
gout
tuberculosis, and other infections.
|
|
|
|
|
Osteo
Arthritis |
|
Osteo-arthritis
is due to wear of the articulatory
cartilage, and may lead to secondary
changes in the underlying bone.
It may be primary, or it may
occur secondarily to abnormal
load to the joint or damage
to the cartilage from inflammation
or trauma. |
|
The
joints are painful and stiff
with restricted movement. Osteoarthritis
is recognized on X-ray by narrowing
of the joint space (due to loss
of cartilage) and the presence
of osteophytes, osteosclerosis,
and cysts in the bone. |
|
Degenerative
joint disease |
| |
|
|
|
|
Rheumatoid
Arthritis |
|
Rheumatoid
Arthritis is a disease of the
synovial lining of joints: The
joints are initially painful,
swollen, and stiff and are usually
affected symmetrically.
(Onset can be at any age, and
these is considerable risk of
severity. Women are at greater
risk. Rheumatoid arthritis is
an autoimmune disease, and most
patients show presence of rheumatoid
factor in their serum*.) |
|
As
the disease progresses the ligaments
supporting the joints are damaged
and there is erosion of the
bone, leading to deformity of
the joints. Tendon sheaths can
be affected, leading to tendon
rupture. |
| (The
second most common form of arthritis,
after osteo arthritis) |
| |
|
|
| Bone Cancer |
|
Bone
cancer may occur as a secondary
cancer from, for example, prostate
cancer |
|
Damage
to stem cells (the cause of
leukaemia). |
| |
|
|
| Gout |
|
Gout is caused by a defect
in uric acid balance in the
metabolism - resulting in an
excess of the acid and its salts
(urates) which then accumulate
in the bloodstream and joints,
respectively. |
|
Gout can result in attacks
of acute gouty arthritis, chronic
destruction of the joints, and
deposits of urates (tophi) in
the skin and cartilage - especially
of the ears.
The excess urates also damage
the kidneys, in which stones
may form. |
| |
|
|
| Osteoporosis |
|
Infection,
injury and synovitis can cause
localized osteoporosis of adjacent
bone.
Generalised osteoporosis is
common in the elderly, and in
women often follows the menopause.
It is also a feature of Cushing's
disease and prolonged steroid
therapy. |
|
Bones
that are brittle and liable
to fracture. |
| Loss
of bone tissue. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
| Rickets |
|
Rickets
is a childhood condition caused
by insufficient vitamin D and
Calcium |
|
Bow
legs. |
| Childhood
disease |
| |
| |
|
*
Serum (blood serum) is similar
to blood plasma except that it
lacks fibrinogen and some other
substances that are used in the
coagulation process. |
|
This is the end of
this page about the skeletal disorders. Information
about the structure
and functions of bones, cranial
and facial bones and bones
of the feet and hands are also included on
this website.
|
