Healthy Bones and Your Skeletal System

Your skeletal system is the system of bones inside your body. Your skeletal system also includes your teeth. Your body has many different bones that have an important job. Not only do bones give your body support, but they also protect fragile organs and systems inside your body. You have probably seen pictures and models of the human skeleton. The skeleton is a strong system that includes more than 200 different pieces that fit together like a complicated puzzle. With joints connecting the bones, you can move in many different ways. The full skeletal system is divided into two parts: the appendicular skeleton and the axial skeleton.

Special parts of the skeleton make up the appendicular system. The word “appendicular” comes from the word “appendage,” which is another word for “limb.” Your arms and your legs are limbs, so the appendicular skeletal system includes your arms and legs. The appendicular system also includes the bones in your shoulders that attach to your arms and the bones in your pelvis that attach to your legs. To remember the bones that make up the appendicular system, think about your appendages. These bones are all of the ones that are either in or connected to your appendages, which are your arms and legs.

The axial skeleton includes the rest of your skeleton. These parts include your skull, bones in your neck and ears, your vertebrae, your sternum between your ribs, and the ribs. The word “axial” comes from the word “axis,” which means the center of something. About 80 bones make up the axial skeleton, and they are all in the head and the trunk of the body. These bones have a very important job because they protect the brain, internal organs, and nerves in the spinal column. To remember the bones that make up the axial skeleton, think about all of the bones that don’t connect directly with your arms and your legs. These are the bones of the axial skeleton.

Bones are living tissue, and they grow with you as you get bigger. Bones have a number of different layers. The very inside of bones is made of marrow, which is a thick gel-type substance. A spongy layer surrounds the bone marrow, and this layer is called cancellous bone. Even though this layer is spongy, it is still very strong. Around the cancellous bone, compact bone forms a smooth and hard layer. The very outermost surface of your bones is called the periosteum. Although this layer is thin, it is very important. The periosteum has many blood vessels and nerves that work to keep bones nourished and healthy.

A number of bone diseases can cause health problems for people. Osteoporosis involves a person’s bones breaking down over time. When someone is young, they have a certain amount of bone mass in their bodies. If someone develops osteoporosis, the amount of bone mass in the body will actually become less. If this happens, bones can become very fragile. This is why it can be easy for older people to break their bones. Sometimes people who don’t get enough vitamin D can develop rickets. Rickets is a bone disease that happens to kids, and it involves weak bones that will break easily. Someone with rickets might also have pain in their muscles.

You can learn about the skeletal systems and all of the different bones in your body by playing games and doing activities. Worksheets can help you learn the different names of the bones. Playing matching games might involve matching different bone names with the correct bone or placing bones where they belong in the body. You might even label a skeleton with the correct bone names. Try playing a bingo game with different bone names so you can learn them.

Appendicular System

• The Appendicular Skeleton (PDF)
• Virtual Field Trip of the Appendicular Skeleton
• Skeleton Axial and Appendicular
• Appendicular Skeleton
• Bones of the Appendicular Skeleton (PDF)
• Appendicular Skeleton: Bones and Bone Markings

Axial System

• The Skeletal System
• Diagram of the Skeletal System
• Skeletal Lecture
• Skeletal System: Bones and Markings (PDF)
• The Axial Skeleton
• Types of Skeletal Systems
• Axial Skeleton

Common Bone Diseases

• Fast Facts About Osteoporosis
• Diseases of Bone (PDF)
• Calcium and Bone Disorders
• What Is Bone Disease? (PDF)
• Metabolic Bone Diseases
• Musculoskeletal System Diseases
• Bones and Joints (PDF)
• Enchondroma: Benign Bone Tumors

Games, Activities, and Other Resources

• Movable Joints Charades (PDF)
• Bones, Muscles, and Joints (PDF)
• Human Skeleton Anatomy Activity (PDF)
• Bone Bingo (PDF)
• Plantation Cosmetic Dentists
• Plantation Sedation Dentists
• Plantation Periodontist