Omar Bennett
Bones are a crucial part of the human body, forming the skeleton and providing structure, support, and protection for our organs. The adult human body contains 206 bones, including the skull, spine, ribs, arms, and legs. Bones are made of connective tissue reinforced with calcium and are classified by their shape—long, short, flat, or irregular. They enable mobility and flexibility, allowing us to move in various ways. Under the skin, our bones have a tough, thin outer membrane called the periosteum, which is covered by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The skeletal system, which includes the bones, joints, muscles, cartilage, and connective tissue, is our body's primary support structure, giving us shape and stability.
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What You'll Learn
Bones give the body its shape
Long bones have a long, thin shape, like the bones of the arms and legs (excluding the wrists, ankles, and kneecaps). With the help of muscles, long bones work as levers to permit movement. Short bones have a squat, cubed shape, like the bones that make up the wrists and ankles. Flat bones have a flattened, broad surface, like the ribs, shoulder blades, breastbone, and skull bones. Irregular bones do not conform to the shapes of the three types mentioned.
The skeletal system contains all the bones and the tissues they support, including the joints. It is the body's most important support structure, giving the body its shape and holding the organs in place. It includes connective tissue, muscles, cartilage, and ligaments and tendons. The skeleton supports and shapes the body and protects delicate internal organs such as the brain, heart, liver, and lungs.
The spine, for example, is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae, each shaped like a ring. It lets you twist and bend, holds your body upright, and protects the spinal cord. The first seven vertebrae at the top are called cervical vertebrae. The first seven pairs of ribs attach in the front to the sternum, a strong bone in the centre of the chest that holds the ribs in place.
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Bones protect internal organs
Bones are a crucial part of the human body, providing structure, support, and protection to our internal organs and systems. There are 206 bones in the adult human skeleton, excluding teeth and small sesamoid bones found within tendons. These bones are classified by their shape—long, short, flat, or irregular—and work together to safeguard our vital organs.
One of the most recognisable examples of bone protection is the rib cage. Our ribs form a protective cage around our chest, shielding vital organs like the heart and lungs from external harm. The rib cage is made up of 12 pairs of ribs, with each pair consisting of a left and right side that are identical in structure. These ribs attach to the spine at the back and to the sternum, a strong bone in the centre of the chest, at the front.
The bones of the vertebral column, or spine, also play a crucial role in protecting our spinal cord. The spine is composed of 33 vertebrae, each shaped like a ring, and allows for flexibility and movement while also providing structural support and protection to the delicate spinal cord. The first seven vertebrae at the top are known as the cervical vertebrae.
Additionally, the bones of the skull, or cranium, form a protective casing around our brain. The skull completely surrounds and shields the brain from potential injuries, ensuring its safety.
Beyond physical protection, bones also serve as a reservoir for essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus, which are crucial for muscle contractions, nerve impulse transmission, and maintaining various physiological processes. Bone marrow, found within many bones, is responsible for producing red and white blood cells, as well as platelets, which are vital for our body's immune and circulatory systems.
In summary, bones play a critical role in safeguarding our internal organs from injury and providing structural support. They also contribute to the overall functioning of our bodies by serving as a storage site for minerals and housing essential components like bone marrow, which is responsible for blood cell production.
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Bones are made of connective tissue
Bones are a vital part of the human body, providing structure, support, and protection to our bodies and organs. The adult human body contains 206 bones, including the skull, spine, ribs, arms, and legs. Bones are made of connective tissue, reinforced with calcium and specialised bone cells.
Connective tissue is a type of tissue that contributes to numerous body functions, including supporting organs and cells, transporting nutrients and wastes, and defending against pathogens. It can be broadly classified into two types: connective tissue proper and specialised connective tissue. Bones fall under the category of specialised connective tissue, which also includes adipose, cartilage, blood, and lymphatic tissues.
Bone surfaces are covered by specialised connective tissues, with the periosteum covering the external surfaces of most bones. The periosteum is a thin, dense membrane that contains nerves and blood vessels that help nourish bone tissue. Underneath the periosteum lies cancellous or spongy bone tissue, which has a porous, honeycombed structure. This tissue is strong yet lightweight, allowing bones to be rigid and durable while maintaining a low weight.
Bone marrow, a soft substance found inside the cavities of some bones, is where blood cells are formed and stored. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, white blood cells are part of the immune system, and platelets help with blood clotting. The body constantly remodels its skeleton by building up and breaking down bone tissue, ensuring healthy bone development and maintenance.
In summary, bones are made of specialised connective tissue, reinforced with calcium to provide strength and rigidity. This connective tissue consists of cells, fibres, and ground substances, contributing to various body functions and maintaining overall skeletal health.
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Bone marrow is found inside bones
Bones give shape and support to the body and protect some of our organs. Bone marrow is a semi-solid tissue found within the spongy or cancellous portions of bones. It is soft and found inside many bones, where it makes most of the body's red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In birds and mammals, bone marrow is the primary site of new blood cell production.
Bone marrow is located in the ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and bones of the pelvis. It comprises approximately 5% of total body mass in healthy adult humans. Human marrow produces approximately 500 billion blood cells per day, which join the systemic circulation via permeable vasculature sinusoids within the medullary cavity.
Bone marrow is made up of hematopoietic cells, marrow adipose tissue, and supportive stromal cells. Hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow can give rise to hematopoietic lineage cells, and mesenchymal stem cells, which can be isolated from the primary culture of bone marrow stroma. These can give rise to bone, adipose, and cartilage tissue.
Bone marrow transplants can be conducted to treat severe diseases of the bone marrow, including certain forms of cancer such as leukemia. Bone marrow stem cells can be induced to become neural cells to treat neurological illnesses and can also potentially be used to treat other illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease.
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Bones are classified by their shape
Bones are an essential part of the human body, providing shape, structure, and support for movement. They also protect our internal organs and serve as a storage site for minerals. The adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones, excluding teeth and small sesamoid bones. These bones can be classified into five categories based on their shapes: long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid.
Long bones are those that are longer than they are wide, resembling a cylindrical shape. Examples of long bones include the femur, tibia, fibula, humerus, ulna, and radius. These bones are found in the arms and legs and also in the fingers (metacarpals and phalanges) and toes (metatarsals and phalanges). Long bones function as levers or rigid bars, facilitating movement when muscles contract.
Short bones, on the other hand, are approximately equal in length, width, and thickness, resembling a cube-like shape. The only short bones in the human skeleton are found in the carpals of the wrists and the tarsals of the ankles.
Flat bones are thin but often curved. They include the ribs, skull, sternum, and some bones in the pelvis and thoracic cage. Flat bones provide protection to internal organs and offer a large area for muscle attachment.
Irregular bones do not have a easily characterized shape and thus do not fit into other classifications. They often have complex shapes and are found in the vertebrae, supporting and protecting the spinal cord. Many bones of the face, including the jaw bones, are also classified as irregular bones.
Sesamoid bones are small, round bones that resemble sesame seeds in shape. They form in tendons where significant pressure is generated, such as in the feet, hands, and knees. The patella, or kneecap, is a common example of a sesamoid bone. These bones protect tendons from excessive forces while also enhancing their function.
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Frequently asked questions
Bones are rigid organs that constitute the skeleton of most vertebrate animals. They provide structure and support for the body, produce blood cells, store minerals, and enable mobility.
Bones can be classified by their shape: long (e.g. femur, forearm), short (e.g. wrist, ankle), flat (e.g. skull), or irregular (e.g. spine).
Bones are made of connective tissue reinforced with calcium and specialised bone cells. Most bones contain bone marrow, which is where blood cells are formed and stored.
The adult human body typically has 206 bones, including the bones of the skull, spine, ribs, arms, legs, and feet.
