How the Skeletal System Works
Introduction
Did you know that if you didn’t have bones you wouldn’t be able to walk? You would just be a collection of cells, skin and organs on the ground! The skeletal system is made up of lots bones.
What are your bones made of?
Bone have several parts to them. In the middle of your bones is bone marrow. Bone marrow makes blood cells. Then there is a spongy layer of bone called cancellous. Covering the cancellous is compact, hard bone. This is what makes your bone strong and also it helps to repair the bone when it gets broken. Your bones are covered by a layer of periosteum. It is important to boost your calcium to keep them strong.
How your bones grow smaller and bigger?
Our bones grow using a layer cells that are shaped like plates. They are at the ends of our bones. They are called growth plates because when we get to adulthood we lose the growth plates when they close up. That is why you don't see adults growing any bigger. As we get old though we tend to grow smaller because when you're old the gravity takes hold and the disks or cushions between the bones in the spine get compressed over time to make you smaller.
How do our bones move?
The bone moves with muscles and joints. We use the muscles that are attached to the bone to make it move. The muscles act as a lever which moves various parts of the body. You also need joints to provide flexible connection between the bones.
Conclusion
We have 206-300 bones in our skeletal system (depending on how old you are). Our skeletal system is important for protecting our organs and helping us to move.
