Human Skeleton
It corresponds to the set of bones of a given body, its main functions being: support, locomotion and protection of vital organs.
Parts of the Skeleton
The human skeleton is divided into two parts : the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.
Axial Skeleton
Composed of the skull (braincase), the rib cage (thorax) and the spinal column , the axial skeleton is the central part of the human body.
Appendicular Skeleton
Formed by the upper and lower limbs (arms, hands, legs and feet), shoulder, waist, pelvis, joints, articulations and ligaments, the appendicular skeleton is the one that joins the axial skeleton.
Bones
Bones are structures formed by bone tissue and calcium that aid in locomotion, support, protection and the body’s mineral reserve .
The human body is made up of 206 bones and, according to their shape, they are classified as: short, long, irregular, flat, sesamoid and supernumerary bones.
Tendons
Tendons are fibrous cords , that is, structures formed by connective tissue composed of collagen.
Its main function is to connect muscles to bones and, in this way, aid movement and balance of the body.
Ligaments
Ligaments are fibrous tissues that have the function of connecting one bone to another, as they reinforce the stabilization of joints and aid in movement .
They differ from tendons in that tendons connect muscles to bones and ligaments connect bones to other bones.
Cartilages
Cartilage in the human body is an elastic tissue (cartilaginous connective tissue) composed of collagen.
They are found, for example, in the nose and ear, and their main function is protection. Cartilages are divided into elastic, fibrous and hyaline cartilage.
Curiosities
- In total, an adult human has 206 bones: 80 bones in the axial skeleton and 126 bones in the appendicular skeleton.
- There are differences between the bone structures of a man and a woman, as women have a wider pelvis and sternum, however, most of the other bones, such as the wrist and jaw, are narrower than those of men.
- Some diseases related to the skeletal system are: osteoporosis, that is, the decrease in bone mass characterized by fragility and porosity of the bones; and rickets, very common in children, this disease is associated with poor bone formation due to a lack of vitamin D and calcium.