Do you know that there are approximately 270 bones in the skeleton of a newborn? And that with aging, the number of bones decreases, and an adult has about 206 of them? Here we will tell what happens to these 64 bones and many other interesting things about the human skeleton.
Skeleton is a set of bones of the musculoskeletal system. Here are its functions:
1. The first is, of course, a pillar. The skeleton provides the framework which supports the body and maintains its shape. And also muscles and internal organs are attached to it.
2. Movement. Together with the muscles, the skeleton makes up the musculoskeletal system. Although the function of the bones here is passive, they are so-called "levers" and move as a result of muscle contraction.
3. Protection of internal organs. For example, the skull protects the brain, the chest protects the lungs and heart, the spine protects the spinal cord.
And here are some more functions that few people know:
4. Shock-absorbing function
The bones of our feet and the curves of our spine are especially like that to soothe the shock of walking.
5. Storage
Bones are the storage of phosphorus and calcium for the whole body. The so-called "depot" of mineral salts.
6. Blood cell production
The bone marrow is the source of blood cells.
Are there any differences between the skeleton of a woman and a man?
Yes, but they are relatively minor:
⁃ Men usually have thicker finger and limb bones than women;
⁃ The bones of the male skull are also thicker, the brow ridges protrude more, and in general the capacity of the male skull is larger than the female one;
⁃ Women's ribcage is narrower, though, the pelvis is wider and lower and pelvic bones are thinner.
Division: axial and appendicular skeleton
The axial skeleton comprises the skull, ribcage, ribs and spine.
Scull
It has two sections: the cerebral - contains the brain, and the facial - our sense organs (nose, ears, eyes and tongue).
Ribcage
The ribcage protects the heart and lungs and participates in the breathing process. Includes 12 pairs of ribs, 12 thoracic vertebrae and sternum.
Spine
The support and main axis of the skeleton, includes 24 vertebrae, sacrum and coccyx. It has 5 sections: cervical (7 vertebrae), thoracic (12 vertebrae which are connected to the ribs), lumbar (5 vertebrae), sacral and coccygeal (they connect the entire spine with the pelvic girdle). The spinal cord runs inside the spine.
The appendicular skeleton includes the arm bones (shoulder, forearm, hand) and leg bones, which are attached to the axial skeleton through the shoulder and pelvic girdles.
The shoulder girdle includes paired shoulder blades and collarbones. The pelvic girdle provides the attachment of the legs to the axial skeleton and also accommodates the digestive, reproductive and urinary systems.
What happens to those 64 bones?
If you have been waiting for the answer since the very beginning of the article, here finally is the answer.
The fact is that a child's skeleton contains many small bones, which grow together into large bones during the process of growing up. This applies to the bones of the skull, spine and pelvis. By the way, the sacrum generally grows together only by the age of 18-25.
What are bones made of?
Bone is an organ made up of cells and intercellular substances.
It includes:
⁃ Bone tissue;
⁃ Periosteum (the tissue that surrounds the bone from the outside);
⁃ Endost (lines the bone tissue from the inside and forms the medullary canal);
⁃ Articular cartilage;
⁃ Nerves;
⁃ Blood vessels.
Bones can be examined with the help of an X-ray. Their transparency on X-ray depends on the number of calcium salts: the more salts there are, so the less transparent the bones are.
Since you have read "Interesting facts about the human skeleton" in the title, we will not snow you under unnecessary and boring bone classification and will finally get down to business:
We would also like to bring up the topic of diseases of the body’s skeletal system. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, approximately 1.71 billion people suffer from various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The number is, of course, huge. Let's have a look at the most common diseases:
Joint damage
Bone tissue damage
Spinal lesions
Other inflammatory diseases and pain syndromes in different parts of the body, as well as sprains and dislocations
Many diseases of the skeletal system lead to limited mobility and some may even cause immobility and leave the person disabled.
The best prevention for a healthy and strong musculoskeletal system is sports, proper nutrition and, in general, leading a healthy lifestyle.
These simple rules will help to maintain a healthy and strong musculoskeletal system. Take care of yourself and stay healthy!