1. HUMAN SKELETON
Effects of Microgravity
Ms. Tobie Brandriss
Biology Teacher, Hunter College High School

2. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/skeleton/skelcolor.GIF

3. FUNCTIONS OF OUR
SKELETON
1. Gives us Shape – Structure
2. Protects delicate body parts
like brain
3. Makes blood cells
4. Helps us move

5. SPINAL
CARTILAGE
DISC
SPINAL
CARTILAGE
DISC

6. FUNCTIONS OF CARTILAGE
DISCS BETWEEN YOUR
SPINAL COLUMN BONES
1. Act as cushions between the
spinal column bones
2. Shock absorbers as you walk
and move
3. Allow you to bend and straighten

7. ASTRONAUTS’ CARTILAGE DISCS
EXPAND IN MICROGRAVITY
CS
COMPRESSED DISCS EXPANDED DISCS

8. DATA ON CHANGE IN ASTRONAUTS’
BODY HEIGHT IN SPACE

9. EFFECT OF GRAVITY ON
SPINAL CARTILAGE DISCS
• Due to gravity, spinal column discs
are compressed during the day,
expand again at night
• Astronauts increase in height
while they are in outer space,
because there is no gravity to
compress their discs

10. EFFECT OF MICROGRAVITY ON
ASTRONAUT’S SKELETON
1. Height of astronauts
increase in space

11. UPPER ARM BONE OF
CHILD AND ADULT

12. UPPER ARM BONE OF
CHILD AND ADULT

13. HOW BONES CHANGE
1. Bones Grow
2. Broken Bones Heal

14. LOWER ARM BONES FRACTURE

15. UPPER ARM BONE FRACTURE

16. UPPER ARM BONE FRACTURE

17. SPINAL
CARTILAGE

21. FRACTURE HEALING

22. OSTEOCLASTS
3 TYPES
(Digesters)
OF BONE
CELLS
OSTEOBLASTS
(Builders)
OSTEOCYTES
(Maintenance Crew)

23. 3 TYPES OF BONE CELLS
1. OSTEOBLASTS – Make new bone
2. OSTEOCLASTS – Digest away bone
3. OSTEOCYTES – Maintain healthy bone

24. 3-D SECTION OF BONE TISSUE

25. BONE HOMEOSTASIS
1. Most of our skeleton is constantly
being broken down, and built back up
2. Amount of bone built up = amount of
bone broken down
3. This balance of breakdown and
buildup is called bone homeostasis

26. Osteoporotic
bone
Normal bone

27. EFFECT OF MICROGRAVITY ON
ASTRONAUT’S SKELETON
1. Height of astronauts body
increases in space
2. Osteoporosis – weakening
of bone due to bone loss

28. MEDICINE EXERCISE
(Artificial Gravity)
OTHER
(Biophysical Stimulation)

29. Height change after bedrest
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
inches
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
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Students who conducted activity