Skeleton

Skeleton

The skeleton is the hard frame that carries the body.

Skeleton is the framework of the body.

It is the structure that holds everything together inside an animal.

It gives the body strength and shape, and it hides delicate organs so they do not get hurt.

The skeleton is the main pillar in the middle of a human being.

Flesh, blood pipes, and skin all cover this bony frame.

An adult human body has 206 bones in total.

It is funny to know that babies are born with about 300 bones.

As a child grows big, some of these bones join together to become one.

The longest bone in your body is the femur, which is your thigh bone.

The smallest bone is called the stirrup bone, and it is hidden deep inside your ear.

If you count the bones in just one hand, you will find 26 of them.

The nose and ears are different because they are made of cartilage instead of hard bone.

Cartilage is a flexible substance that is not as hard as bone.

It is a soft, bendable material that feels like strong plastic.

Bones have plenty of calcium in them, which is a mineral you get from drinking milk and eating good food.

Apart from holding the body up, bones also make blood and keep important minerals safe.

Functions of Skeleton

Protection

The skeleton acts like a shield for the soft parts inside you.

Protection is the skeleton protects delicate internal organs and soft tissues.

This shield is very important so that your internal parts do not break when you fall down.

For example, the skull is like a helmet that covers the brain completely.

The ribcage is like a basket that covers the lungs and heart but still lets them breathe.

Even small animals like snails and prawns have a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton to keep them safe from bigger animals.

Support and Shape

The skeleton is the pillar that keeps the body standing straight.

Structural Support and Shape is the skeleton serves as a support structure that gives shape to the body.

A strong frame helps every living thing to have a special look that fits how they live.

For instance, a cheetah has long, thin leg bones and a back that bends easily so it can run very fast.

Birds have bones that are light and empty inside to make their bodies smooth for flying.

Movement

Bones work with the flesh on your body to help you walk or run.

Movement or Locomotion is the bones are connected to skeletal muscles, enabling the body to move.

Bones work like long sticks or levers.

When your muscles pull on your bones, your body moves from one place to another.

Blood Cell Production

Bones act like a factory that makes the blood flowing in your body.

Blood cell formation, also known as haematopoiesis, occurs in the red bone marrow.

The body makes new blood inside the bones to stay healthy.

Inside the hollow part of the bone called the marrow, there are special cells that build new red and white blood cells.

If the bone marrow is not working well, the body cannot get new blood.

Without new blood, the body cannot carry oxygen or fight off sickness.

Mineral Storage

Bones act like a bank where the body keeps important minerals.

Mineral Storage is skeletal bones can store minerals like phosphorus and calcium.

Bones release these minerals when the body needs them to keep everything in balance.

Endocrine Regulation

Bones also help to control how the body works by sending out chemical messages.

Bone cells release a hormone called osteocalcin.

This chemical message affects how the body uses sugar, how it keeps fat, and how men's bodies work.

When this hormone comes out, it tells the pancreas to make insulin to control sugar.

This helps to lower the sugar in the blood so the body can use it for energy.

This hormone also tells fat cells to break down so the body can get more power.

Also, this hormone helps the male parts to produce testosterone and helps the body to grow even more bone cells.