Skeletal System Structure and Functions
Your skeleton does way more than just hold you upright - it's like a multi-purpose factory inside your body. The 206 bones in your adult skeleton (you had 300 as a child!) serve four main functions that keep you alive and moving.
Bone types have specific jobs: long bones like your femur provide structure and strength, flat bones like your skull protect vital organs, and sesamoid bones like your kneecap reduce friction during movement. Your spine has natural curves - cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx regions - that help distribute weight properly.
The coolest function happens inside your bones through blood cell production. Your bone marrow churns out red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets constantly. Meanwhile, bones store calcium and phosphorus, releasing these minerals when your body needs them.
Remember This: Your bones are living tissue that constantly breaks down and rebuilds through osteoclast and osteoblast cells - this is why exercise makes them stronger over time.
Understanding your axial skeleton (spine, skull, rib cage) versus your appendicular skeleton (arms, legs, shoulders) helps you see why certain movements feel natural and how injuries in one area can affect other parts of your body.