No Bones About It!

TH E S K ELETA L S Y S TEM

Bones in your Body

The number of

bones in your
body depends on
your age! An
adult skeleton
contains 206
bones, while a
newborn has
approximately
305 bones!!

Functions ofthe SkeletalSystem

Provides Shape

and support
Enables
movement
Protects your
organs
Produces blood
cells
Stores minerals
and other

Shape and Support

The vertebral or

spinal column is the

center of the
skeleton. There are
26 vertebrae in your
spinal column.
Each vertebra is

flexible and able to

bend your spinal
column

M ovem ent and Protection

Most of the bodys bones

are associated with

muscles.
The muscles pull on the
bones to make the body
move.
Bones protect many of
the organs in your body.

Production and Storage

Long bones of

your arms and

legs produce
certain blood
cells.
Bones also store
minerals such as
calcium and
phosphorus.
They are released
as needed.

Joints
A joint is a place

where two bones

come together.
Joints allow bones
to move in
different ways.
Joints are either
movable or
immovable.

Im m ovable joints

Immovable joints

allow little or no
movement.

Types ofJoints

Cartilage
Cartilage covers the
ends of the bones
and keeps them from
rubbing against each
other.
In the knee, cartilage
prevents the femur
from rubbing against
the bones of the
lower leg.

Bone Structure
Tough outer

membrane covers
the bone
Beneath the outer
bone is a layer of
compact bone
Beneath the compact
bone is spongy bone,
which has many
small spaces.

M arrow
The spaces in

many bones
contain a soft,
connective tissue
called marrow.
There are 2 types
of marrow, red
and yellow.

Red M arrow
Red bone marrow

produces most of the

bodys blood cells.
As one matures, only
the ends of the
femur, skull, hip
bones, and sternum
contain red marrow.
Yellow marrow stores
fat that can serve as
an energy reserve.

H ard as a Rock
Bones are strong and

lightweight.
Bones comprise only 20%
of the bodys weight.
Bones are hard as a rock
because they are
composed of the minerals
calcium and phosphorus
tightly packed.
Bone strength increases
with regular exercise.

Bones are Alive!!

Bones

contain cells
and tissues,
such as blood
and nerves.

They also

form new
bone as you
grow.

O steoporosis

Sym ptom s ofO steoporosis

As people become older, their bones begin to lose

some of the minerals they contain. This can lead

to a condition know as osteoporosis. Bones
become weak and break easily.