**QUICK ASK**HUMAN SKELETON

Human Body/Skeleton

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The skeleton is the part of our body that allows it to keep its shape. It is made up of hundreds of connected bones, each with a different rol

A diagram of the human skeleton

An adult skeleton system has 206 bones. The longest is the thigh bone - femur The smallest inside the ear - ossicles.

Functions of the Skeleton

The skeleton has six main functions:

• Support - the skeleton is the 'frame' which supports the body, allowing us to maintain our shape.
• Attachment - muscles, tendons and ligaments attach to the surface of the bones.
• Movement - skeletal muscles allow us to move around and these are attached to the skeleton by tendons. If it were not for the skeleton, movement would be much harder and would be very restricted.
• Protection - the skeleton protects most of the vital organs. For example the skull protects the brain and the ribcage protects the lungs and the heart.
• Blood cell production - blood cells are made inside bone marrow, which is found in bones of the skeleton.

Structure of the Skeleton

Bones contain blood vessels , nerve cells and living bones. A non-living hard matter of calcium and phosphorous protects these.

Skeleton joints

Joints are the meeting point of bones. These restrict as well as facilitate movement of bones. Fixed joint , movable joints , ball and socket joints , pivot joints, etc., are different types of joints.

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**QUICK ASK**WHAT IS MUSCLE-

Muscles are the organs that make us move. Muscles are everywhere. They can be tiny as in the ear or huge like leg muscles. Although no muscle is directly visible you can watch many of them in action in the mirror, when you flex your muscles.

What does a muscle look like?

A muscle is usually a long round organ. The color is red. A muscle is flexible and shortens and thickens during a contraction. The figure on the right shows a series of magnifications of a muscle. You can see that a muscle is a collection of fibres or strings, each of which is capable of contraction. The added force of these fibres is the strength of the muscle.

What are the parts of a muscle?

A muscle has two ends each of which attach to some other organ, usually a bone. These connectors are called tendons.

What is the function of a muscle?

Muscles produce almost all movements in our body. We need healthy muscles to be able to walk, move, and even smile. The muscles in our heart move blood around the body. Without muscles, we couldn't live.

How does a muscle interact with other parts of the body?

Muscles connect with all of the other parts of the body. Muscles in the heart pump blood throughout the body. The diaphragm is a large muscle that allows us to breathe. Muscles from our mouth to our stomach and beyond help us swallow food and move it through the digestive system. Even our eyes have muscles that let us look around and see our surroundings.

How can you keep your muscles healthy?

Our muscles are kept healthy through regular exercise. Eating properly and especially including protein in your diet will help keep your muscles healthy.

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