The Skeletal System

by Evelyn Kelly

Overview

Beginning with an exploration of the various bones in our bodies, this volume of the Encyclopedia of the Human Body discusses the parts of the skeletal system and how they work together to provide our bodies with shape, support, and movement, protection of tissues and organs, and production of blood cells. Both the axial bones of the skeleton and the appendicular bones of the limbs are explored. Joints, ligaments, tendons and cartilage are discussed in relation to the bones of the skeletal system. The history of the research on the skeletal system is presented and the future of research in this field is considered. Current controversies and dilemmas of scientists performing this research are explored. Skeletal system disorders, symptoms and treatments are explored, including sprains, fractures, arthritis, lyme disease, and carpal tunnel syndrome. This reference concludes with information about maintaining a healthy skeletal system, a comprehensive glossary, and resources for further information including web sites and contact information for organizations and national health institutions.

The Encyclopedia of the Human Body provides a complete, comprehensive reference source for students interested in the human body. Each book in this ten-volume set introduces and describes a specific body system, including the parts and function of each system, the history of discovery, related diseases and treatments, as well as possible future advances in research. Detailed illustrations and diagrams, including an eight-page color insert, provide a visual reference for written material.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313062520
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/30/2004
Series:	Human Body Systems
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

EVELYN KELLY is an independent scholar who has written 10 books and over 400 journal articles. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers, is past president of American Medical Writer's Association, Florida chapter, and was recently invited to join the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Functions of the Skeletal System

Bones of the Skeletal System: The Axial System

Bones of the Limbs: The Appendicular System

The Moveable Machine: Joints, Ligaments, Tendons, Cartilage

Living Bone: Bone Growth and Renewal

Probing the Unseen: Embryology of the Skeletal System

Bones in the Ancient World

Bones: From the Rise of Christianity through the Dark Ages

The Renaissance and the Skeletal System

The 17th and 18th Centuries: The Beginning of Science and the Rise of Orthopedics

19th-century Medicine: The Rise of Orthopedics as a Specialty

The Skeletal System in the 20th Century

Bones: 21st Century and Beyond

The Injury-Plagued Skeleton

Diseases and Disorders of the Joints

Focus on Feet, Hands, and Backs

When the Skeletal System Fails: Bone Diseases and Disorders

Genetic Basis for Bone Disorders

Glossary of Terms

Medical Organizations and Web Sites

Fact Sheet

References

Captions