Thursday, April 4, 2013

The Skeletal System


The Skeletal System
The Body's Support


The skeletal system is the sturdy, internal frame which helps us support our bodies. The human skeletal consists of cartilage, bones, ligaments, joints, and tendons. The bones of the body makes a firm structure called the skeleton. The strong material provides protection for the soft and important organs of the body. The skeleton also supports the body against the pull of gravity.

The functions of the skeletal system are to provide shape and support, to enable movement, to protect internal organs, to provide blood cells, and to store certain materials until the body needs them.

Protection:
Some bones protect important organs of your body.

Storage:
Bones store minerals that help your nerves and muscles function properly. Long bones store fat that can be used for energy.

Movement:
Skeletal muscles pull on bones to produce movement. Strands of strong connective tissues connect your skeletal muscles to your bones. These strands are known as tendons. When a muscle that connects two bones gets shorter, the bones are pulled closer to each other. This process produces movement.

Blood Cell Formation:
Some of your bones are filled with a special material that makes blood cells. This material is called marrow.

The major organs of the skeletal system are the bones, cartilage, and ligaments. All the bones, cartilage, ligaments, joints, and tendons add up to about 20% of your weight.

Some of the bones in the skeletal system are the patella, tibia, femur, and fibula. The skeletal system’s bones have the most calcium.


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