Bones are made up of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and other minerals, as well as the protein collagen. Bones function as the skeleton of the human body, allow body parts to move and protect organs from impact damage. They also produce red and white blood cells. Bones provide support for our bodies and help form our shape. Although they're very light, bones are strong enough to support our entire weight. Bones also protect the body's organs. The skull protects the brain and forms the shape of the face What are the parts of the skeletal system?
The skeletal system is a network of many different parts that work together to help you move. The main part of your skeletal system consists of your bones, hard structures that create your body’s framework — the skeleton. There are 206 bones in an adult human skeleton. Each bone has three main layers:
Periosteum: The periosteum is a tough membrane that covers and protects the outside of the bone.
Compact bone: Below the periosteum, compact bone is white, hard, and smooth. It provides structural support and protection.
Spongy bone: The core, inner layer of the bone is softer than compact bone. It has small holes called pores to store marrow.
The other components of your skeletal system include:
Cartilage: This smooth and flexible substance covers the tips of your bones where they meet. It enables bones to move without friction (rubbing against each other). When cartilage wears away, as in arthritis, it can be painful and cause movement problems.
Joints: A joint is where two or more bones in the body come together. There are three different joint types. The types of joints are:
Immovable joints: Immovable joints don’t let the bones move at all, like the joints between your skull bones.
Partly movable joints: These joints allow limited movement. The joints in your rib cage are partly movable joints.
Movable joints: Movable joints allow a wide range of motion. Your elbow, shoulder, and knee are movable joints.
Ligaments: Bands of strong connective tissue called ligaments hold bones together.
Tendons: Tendons are bands of tissue that connect the ends of a muscle to your bones. Fun Facts
Did You Know?
The adult human body has 206 of them.
There are 26 bones in the human foot.
The human hand, including the wrist, contains 54 bones.
The femur, or thighbone, is the longest and strongest bone of the human skeleton.
The stapes, in the middle ear, is the smallest and lightest bone of the human skeleton.
Arms are among the most commonly broken bones, accounting for almost half of all adults' broken bones. The collarbone is the most commonly broken bone among children.
Bones stop growing in length during puberty. Bone density and strength will change over the course of life, however.
The only bone in the human body not connected to another is the hyoid, a V-shaped bone located at the base of the tongue.
Bones are made up of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and other minerals, as well as the protein collagen.
Bones function as the skeleton of the human body, allow body parts to move and protect organs from impact damage. They also produce red and white blood cells.