What do you know about the bones and skeleton?

Squeeze your arm. The outside of your arm is soft, but there is a hard part inside. The hard part is a bone. There are bones in your arms and in your legs. Bones go up the middle of your back. They go around your chest. All of your bones together make up your skeleton. Your skeleton holds your body up. It gives your body its shape. Bones do many other important jobs in your body.

WHAT DO BONES DO?

Many bones protect the soft parts inside your body. Skull bones around your head protect your brain. Rib bones make a cage around your chest. Your rib cage protects your lungs and heart.

Muscles hook on to bones. Muscles pull on your bones to make them move. Muscles and bones together let you stand, sit, and walk around.

Blood is made in the center of bones. The center of a bone is filled with bone marrow. Bone marrow is soft. Red and white blood cells are made by bone marrow. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. White blood cells help your body fight germs.

Three tiny bones help you hear. The three bones are deep inside your ears. One of these bones is called the stirrup bone. It is the smallest bone in your body.

WHAT ARE BONES MADE OF?

There are two kinds of bone. One kind is called compact bone and the other is called spongy bone. Compact bone is the hard and smooth part on the outside of a bone. The long bones in your arms and legs have lots of compact bone. Spongy bone usually lies under the compact bone. Spongy bone is at the ends of arm and leg bones as well. Bones of the pelvis (hipbone), ribs, breastbone, backbone, and skull also contain spongy bone.

Your skeleton also contains cartilage. Cartilage is like bone but softer. It bends easily. There is cartilage in body parts that must be tough but able to bend. There is cartilage in the tip of your nose and in the outer part of your ear.

WHAT ARE JOINTS?

Joints are the places where two or more bones meet. Most bones are tied together at joints by tough bands called ligaments.

Different kinds of joints let you move in different ways. Move your lower arm up and down. Keep your upper arm still. The joint that joins your upper and lower arm is called the elbow. Your elbow works like a hinge. It lets you move your lower arm, but only up and down. Now swing your arm all around from your shoulder. A joint in your shoulder called a ball-and-socket joint lets you move your arm in many directions.

Your skull is made of many bones that do not move. They are held together in one solid piece by suture joints.

HOW DO BONES GROW?

Bones grow or change as long as you live. Your head and other parts of your skeleton had a lot of cartilage when you were born. Bones replaced the cartilage as you got older.

Bones get thicker and longer as you grow taller. Bones keep growing in teenagers. Bones stop growing longer in adults.

Some bones join together as you get older. Your skeleton had more than 300 bones when you were first born. An adult has 206 bones. The longest and strongest bone in adults is the thighbone, in the upper leg.

Bones are replaced a little bit at a time even after they stop growing. This replacement goes on for as long as you live. Your body needs a mineral called calcium to keep strong bones. Milk has lots of calcium. Running and other exercise also helps build strong, thick bones. Some older people have thin, weak bones. Their bones can break easily. Getting enough calcium and exercise can help keep bones from getting weak and thin.

WHAT HAPPENS TO BROKEN BONES?

Sometimes people have accidents that break bones. Maybe they fall out of a tree or down a flight of stairs. Sometimes football players or other athletes break bones when they are playing sports.

A doctor has to fix a broken bone. First, an X-ray picture shows the doctor what the broken pieces of bone look like. Then, the doctor fits the broken parts of the bone back together. This is called setting the bone. Sometimes a broken bone must be put back together with wires or pins.

A broken bone should not be used until it is healed. The doctor makes a hard case called a cast for an arm or leg with a broken bone. New bone starts to grow around the break. The pieces grow together and heal the broken bone.

PDF Practice Worksheet

<a href="https://englishpluspodcast.com/author/dannyballanowner/" target="_self">Danny Ballan</a>

Danny Ballan

Author

Danny is a podcaster, teacher, and writer. He worked in educational technology for over a decade. He creates daily podcasts, online courses, educational videos, educational games, and he also writes poetry, novels and music.

You may also Like

A Short Introduction to Alexander the Great

A Short Introduction to Alexander the Great

He was a king, a commander, and a conqueror. Alexander the Great was so powerful some people called him a god. He was one of the greatest generals in history, and he built a vast empire that extended from the Mediterranean Sea to India.

read more

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

Navigating Life’s Journey: Mastering Idioms and Proverbs in English

Navigating Life’s Journey: Mastering Idioms and Proverbs in English

Join Danny on this enlightening episode of English Plus Academy as we dive into the colorful world of English idioms and proverbs. Discover how these expressions, steeped in life and experience, can enrich your language skills and everyday conversations. Get ready for real-life examples, humorous insights, and practical tips to incorporate these idioms into your daily life.

read more
Unraveling the Mysteries of the Sun: Our Local Star and Lifeline

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Sun: Our Local Star and Lifeline

Join Danny on Knowledge Bites as we delve into the fascinating world of our nearest star, the Sun. Discover its profound impact on Earth, unravel its mysteries, and learn how this celestial giant influences our daily lives. From the basics of solar energy to the latest in solar research, this episode is a journey through the cosmic significance of the Sun. Tune in to uncover how understanding the Sun can inspire and empower us in our everyday lives.

read more
Unlocking the Mysteries of Attraction: A Deep Dive into the Science Behind Our Connections

Unlocking the Mysteries of Attraction: A Deep Dive into the Science Behind Our Connections

Join host Danny on “The Journey Inside” as we delve into the intriguing world of attraction. This episode unravels the complexities of human connections, exploring the psychological, biological, and social factors that draw us to others. Packed with relatable examples and sprinkled with humor, we offer practical insights to apply the science of attraction in everyday life. Don’t miss this captivating journey into the heart of human connections!

read more
Unlock the Soothing Secrets of ‘Emollient’ in Everyday Life

Unlock the Soothing Secrets of ‘Emollient’ in Everyday Life

Dive into the world of ‘Emollient’ with our latest Word Power podcast episode! Discover the deeper meanings and applications of this soothing word in everyday life. Join us as we unravel real-life stories, insightful anecdotes, and the positive impact of ‘Emollient’ in our communication. Don’t forget to like, share, and follow for more enriching content. If you love what you hear, consider supporting us on Patreon to help us create more insightful and valuable episodes like this.

read more

Categories

Follow Us

Pin It on Pinterest