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Parts of Human Skeleton

by Lysis

Overview

The human skeletal system comprises 206 bones that are joined to muscle and used for the protection of sensitive organs. The skeletal system is the support system for the body. It attaches to muscles using tendons. When the brain signals contraction of the muscles, the fibers pull on the skeleton and create movement such as walking, talking and using the arms. Although each bone is an important part of the system, some stand out from the others.
Femur

The femur is a notable bone in the body, because it is the largest and longest. Although parts of the skull are harder, the leg's femur is one of the strongest bones that supports the body's weight, posture and movement for walking. The femur also has a large amount of marrow, which makes it responsible for much of the body's blood cell count. The femur articulates with the hip bone and the knee at the tibia.

Ribs

The ribs are an integral part of the skeleton, protecting vital organs like the heart and lungs. The ribs are not as rigid as other bones in the body. Some parts of the rib cage are made of cartilage. The ribs connect with the sternum, which is often called the breastbone. Humans have 12 pairs of ribs that encase the heart and lungs, protecting them from damage.
Skull

The skull is the hard bone that surrounds the brain. The skull is connected with tiny bits of bones called sutures. The skull surrounds the frontal, temporal and occipital lobes of the brain, protecting them from blunt trauma or force. The skull does not include the mandible, which is the lower jaw bone used for eating and talking. The skull gives humans facial features like cheek bones, the nose and forehead.
Phalanges and Metatarsals

The phalanges are the bones of the fingers. Metatarsals are the bones of the toes. Phalanges have several sections connecting with joints, giving the fingers the ability to have a wide range of movement. There are not as many toe joints, which is why humans have a better movement range in their fingers for holding objects. The toe bones are necessary for the balance of the body.
Humerus

The humerus is the long, upper bone of the arm. It articulates using a ball-and-socket joint with the scapula. Because of the joint structure, the humerus has a wide range of motion for arm movement. Although this bone is not as large as the femur, it also provides a large amount of marrow for blood cell production.