Skeletal System

In your body there is just over 200 bones. The help protect, shape, support, move and produce red blood cell, immune cells and platelets.

Within the bones is bone marrow.

This is where your red blood cells, immune cells and platelets are born.

Bellow is a diagram of the human skeletal system.

Scroll over each word to see the bones

The human skeleton serves 5 main functions

Protection

The cranium and ribs provide protection to the brain, lungs and heart

Shape

Bones give your body shape. They dictate how tall or short you are.

Click here to learn how bones grow

Support

Your skeleton holds all your vital organs in place when you are active. The vertebral column holds the body upright.

Click here to learn more about the spinal cord

Movement

Muscle are attached to bones. If the bones are jointed they can create movement.

When the muscles contract the bones move.

Click here for more information on joints

Blood production

Red blood cells, white blood cells (immune cells)and platelets are produced in the bone marrow of some bones.

Click here to learn more about bone marrow

Click here for a test on the skeletal system

Although you may not think of it, Bones are actually organs. They primarily consist of osseous tissue, however they also have a vast supply of nervous tissue, fibrous tissue lining their cavities, and muscle and epithelial tissue in their blood vessels. This means they are composed of more than one tissue type.