Skeletal System Functions

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functions

The skeletal system

The human skeleton is like a built-in suit of armor for organs throughout your body. Your skull protects your brain, your ribs shield your heart and lungs, and the vertebrae in your spine keep your spinal cord safe

Skeletal System Functions

Protecting Internal Organs

Some bones (not all!) have yellow bone marrow inside of them. Yellow bone marrow stores fat in the form of adipose tissue. It can release energy when your body needs it in the form of triglycerides — a type of fat found in your blood

Skeletal System Functions

Stores and Releases Fat

Red bone marrow is where the production of blood cells (named hematopoiesis, hemato- = “blood”, -poiesis = “to make”) takes place. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all produced in the red bone marrow. As you grow, the distribtion of red and yellow bone marrow changes!

Skeletal System Functions

Produces Red Blood Cells

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Bones can also store necessary minerals when their levels are too high in your blood. Then, your bones will release the minerals when your body needs them. Examples of these minerals include calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. Click on the picture to learn more about what minerals help keep bones strong and healthy!

Skeletal System Functions

Stores and Releases Minerals

Some functions of the skeletal system are more readily observable than others. When you move you can feel how your bones support you and facilitate your movement. Without the skeletal system, you would be a limp mass of organs, muscle, and skin. Bones facilitate movement by serving as points of attachment for your muscles. (yes, muscles attach to bones!) Bones also limit movement! Joints are the points where two bones meet. The type of join is responsible for how that part of the body moves! (example; you can rotate your head, but you can't rotate your toes!)

Skeletal System Functions

Facilitates Movement

Standing upright is a very distiguished human ability. Very few living things can stand upright! How do we do it? Our skeleton is designed to keep us up! Broadly speaking, our pelvis (hips!) and legs are arranged so that they balance our trunks atop our bodies while moving. Since only one limb touches the ground at a time during the walking cycle, balance is especially important. Our feet bones are arranged to keep us balanced Test this! Try walking fast with your toes pointed up

Skeletal System Functions

Supports the Body

• Adults have more yellow bone marrow than infants! Think: babies are generally chunky! Why??

Figure 6.1.2 – Bone Marrow: Bones contain variable amounts of yellow and/or red bone marrow. Yellow bone marrow stores fat and red bone marrow is responsible for producing blood cells (hematopoiesis).