Skeletal System By Desiree Sanchez

What do Your Bones Do? One of the two basic functions of your bones are to provide structure for your body, without your bones you would be a big blob incapable of moving. Another thing they do is produce new cells to replenish the ones that die everyday. The middle, inside, of your bones perform this job. That jelly like middle of your bones is called bone marrow Bones like your cranium and rib cage protect important organs in your body. The cranium protects your brain. Your rib cage protects your heart, lungs, and other internal organs. On the other hand, your backbone provides structure which enables you to stand erect instead of lying like a puddle on the floor.

The Bone Zone When you were born, you were born with over 300 bones. As you grow older an average adult only has 206 bones. This is because most of the bones you had when you were a baby were in your skull. The bones in your skull fuse together as you get older. When you see “soft spots” on the top of a baby’s head just remember that those soft spots were created by the bones in the skull that were not yet fused together. A typical bone has an outer layer of hard or compact bone, which is very strong, dense and tough. Inside this is a layer of spongy bone, which is like honeycomb, lighter and slightly flexible. In the middle of some bones is jelly-like bone marrow, where new cells are constantly being produced for the blood.

How does the Skeletal System Work with Other System? The Skeletal System protects the organs of the Respiratory System Bone Marrow produces new red blood cells for the circulatory system. The bones and muscles work together to move. They are connected by tendons. The skull *cranium* protects your brain which is part of your nervous system.

FUN FACTS Our bones are 6 times stronger than steel if both are the same weight The size of the smallest bone is equivalent to the size of a rice grain. Both Humans and giraffes have the same amount of bones on their necks, just that the giraffes have a much longer vertebra. The only jointless bone in your body is the hyoid bone in your throat. Of the 206 bones in the skeletal system, 52 of them make both our feet.