Human bones -The Human Skeleton,Functions of the Human Skeleton

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The human body consists of about 206 bones. Each bone has a different function and they support the body while undergoing different tasks. The bones contain a huge amount of calcium and help in the manufacturing of blood cells. They also help to store important minerals in the body. The bones together form a human skeleton which gives a definite shape and structure to the body. The skeleton particularly helps in performing movements and protecting different organs in the body.

The femur is the longest bonein the human body and is situated in the thigh. A fully grown femur is about forty-eight centimetres long and can support up to thirty times the weight of the adult. The femur joins the hip-joint and the knee joint. The femur is important in carrying out any walking, jumping or running tasks. It is also commonly known as the thigh bone.

The stirrup is the smallest bone in the human body and is located in the ear. It is also the lightest and one of the most important bones in the human body. This bone functions in the transmission of sound from the incus to the membrane inside the fenestra ovalis.

The Human Skeleton:

The human skeleton is divided into two different parts. The axial skeleton forms the upper part of the body and comprises of the skull, vertebral column and the rib cage. The axial skeleton is formed out of eighty bones. The weight of the axial skeleton is taken up by the lower extremities at the hip joint.

The other part of human skeleton is the appendicular skeleton. This skeleton forms the lower part of the body and comprises of one hundred and twenty six bones. The major bones that are included in the appendicular section are: pectoral girdles, the upper limbs, the pelvic girdle, and the lower limbs.

Functions of the Human Skeleton:

Following are some of the important functions of human skeleton:
  • Support: The skeleton provides support to the human body by maintaining the shape and structure of the body.
  • Movement: The joints between the bones help in flexible movements and to carry out difficult tasks.
  • Protections: The skeleton provides protection to different organs of the human body. For example, the skull protects the brain, the vertebra protects the spinal cord, rib cage protects the heart, etc.

The bones also help in blood cell production and storing the important minerals used during the metabolism activities.

The bone may have several disorders like bone fractures, osteomyelitis, osteosarcoma, bone metastases, etc. Thus, one must take proper precautions to avoid these disorders and other medical casualties.
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