The Skeletal System

The Parts of the skeletal system are: Bones, Tendons, Ligaments, and Bone marrow

What is the purpose of the skeletal system? The purpose of the skeletal system is to provide support and structure for the body and make red and white blood cells.

Blood is made inside your bones. Blood is made in the bone marrow. Your blood is alive. It is made up of millions and millions of tiny blood cells. These cells only live for a few months. This means that your blood supply must constantly be regenerated.

What is bone marrow? Red blood cells ensure that oxygen is distributed to all parts of your body, and white blood cells ensure you are able to fight germs and disease. Who would have thought that bones make blood!?! Many bones are hollow. Their hollowness makes bones strong and light. It's in the center of many bones that bone marrow makes new red and white blood cells. bone marrow

You'd be floppy like a beanbag. You couldn’t stand up. You wouldn’t be able to walk. Without bones you'd be just a puddle of skin and guts on the floor. What would happen if humans didn't have bones?

The Bones Bones have two purposes. Some, like your backbone, provide the structure which allows you to stand up instead of lying like a puddle on the floor. Other bones protect the delicate, soft insides of your body. Your skull acts like a hard protective helmet for your brain. The bones of your spinal column protect your spinal cord. Imagine what could happen to your heart and lungs without the protective armor of your rib cage!

How many bones do humans have? When you were born you had over 300 bones. As you grew, some of these bones began to fuse together. The result? An adult has only 206 bones!

Are your bones alive? Absolutely. Bones are made of a mix of hard stuff that gives them strength and tons of living cells which help them grow and repair themselves. Like other cells in your body, the bone cells rely on blood to keep them alive. Blood brings them food and oxygen and takes away waste.

Tendons Muscles are connected to bones by tendons.

Ligaments Bones are connected to each other by ligaments.

How does the skeletal system work with other systems? The skeletal system works very closely with the muscular system. The muscular system makes your bones move. The bones of your skeleton also work with the circulatory system. Marrow inside of your bones helps produce blood cells. Both red blood cells and white blood cells are created in your bones. The circulatory system also brings food and oxygen to your bones so they can survive.

Do all animals have a bones? No, in fact, 97% of animals on earth do not have bones. These animals are called invertebrates.

Which part of your body has the most bones? Nearly half of the bones in your body are found in your hands and in your feet. Think about that. Your hands are so complex, and flexible that, along with your feet, they contain half the bones in your entire body.

Skeletal System Quiz Q: What is one purpose of the skeletal system? A: To provide support and structure for the body. Q: Name the parts of the skeletal system. A: bones, tendons, ligaments, bone marrow Q: How do the skeletal and circulatory systems work together? A: The circulatory system gives food and oxygen to your bone cells so they can survive, and the skeletal system makes blood cells for the circulatory system. Q: How does the skeletal system and the muscular system work together? A: The muscles connect to the bones and make the bones move.