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The human skeletal system
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Human skeleton and muscles
Explainer Video
Tutor: Priya
Summary
The human skeletal system
In a nutshell
The human skeleton is a very important structure that gives the body its shape. The skeleton is made up of many different bones and joints. The four main jobs of the skeleton are protection, support, movement and making blood cells.
The skeletal system
There are bones in an adult human. All the bones in the body make up the human skeleton. Bones have two main layers.
Outer layer | Made from really strong and hard tissue. This stops the bones from bending or breaking. |
Inner layer | Made from a lighter and more spongy layer. It is more flexible than the outer layer but is still very strong. |
The main bones you need to know about are shown below.
| 1. | Skull (cranium) | Protects the brain. |
| 2. | Collarbone (clavicle) | Supports the shoulder. |
| 3. | Ribcage | Protects the heart and lungs. |
| 4. | Spine (vertebrae) | Provides general support and protects the spinal cord. |
| 5. | Pelvis | Supports the weight of the upper body and protects the pelvic organs. |
| 6. | Thigh bone (femur) | Supports the weight of the upper body and assists in movement. |
| 7. | Knee cap (patella) | Protects the knee joint and allows leg movement. |
Functions of the skeleton
The human skeleton has four main jobs.
Function | Explanation |
| Protection | As bone is rigid and tough, it is strong enough to protect the body’s important organs. The skull protects our brain, and the ribs protect our heart and lungs. |
| Support | The skeleton provides a framework for all the muscles and tissues to attach to. This helps the body to stay standing upright. |
| Movement | The skeleton’s bones provide surfaces for muscles to attach to. When these muscles contract, they allow the skeleton to move in different ways. |
| Making blood cells | Many bones in the skeleton contain a soft tissue called bone marrow in the centre of them. The bone marrow produces red blood cells and white blood cells. Curiosity: Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. White blood cells protect the body from infection. |
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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
How many bones are there in an adult human skeleton?
There are 206 bones in an adult human.
What does the skeleton do?
The four main jobs of the skeleton are protection, support, movement and making blood cells.
What is a skeleton?
The human skeleton is a very important structure that gives the body its shape. The skeleton is made up of many different bones and joints.
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