Without the skeletal system, the human body would be a big pile of mush. It is rigid enough to support movement and all of our daily activities, has 32 teeth associated with it, and there are a network of structures that keep up upright and connected. There are some interesting facts to discover about this system as well.
1. Babies Have More
In the human adult, most have 206 total bones in their body. For babies, the number is actually closed to 300. There are lots of extra bones because the cartilage attachments will fuse these extra bones together to form the bigger bones that adults need.
2. Where Are the Bones?
About 50% of the total skeletal structure in count is in the hands and the feet. Each human hand has 27 different bones and each human foot has 26 different pones. This means that 106 out of the 206 bones of the skeletal system can be found in these extremities.
3. Who Has an Extra Bone?
Most human adults have 24 ribs, which means you’ve got twelve on a side. About 0.05% of the population has what is called a cervical rib, however, and this rib grows from the base of the neck, right above the collarbone. It isn’t always a full bone, but it can damage nerves, create severe pain, and even cause blood clots.
4. The Hyoid Is Connected to the…
All of the bones in the human body are connected to at least one other bone. All of them, that is, except for the hyoid. This bone is in the throat and it looks a bit like a horseshoe. It provides support to the voice box and the tongue so that the whole range of voice can be achieved.
5. Fake Bones Have Been Around For Centuries
It is the Ancient Egyptians who are believed to have come up with the first orthopedic prosthesis. They had an artificial big toe that some would wear in daily life. It wasn’t just for cosmetic purposes. Research shows that those with a fake big toe walked easier than those who did not.
6. Bones Grow Tumors
In 2013, a neanderthal rib bone was discovered that dated back over 100,000 years in testing. What was remarkable about this discovery is that there was a tumor in the bone itself. It’s the oldest tumor ever discovered and shows that the active bone cells have long been susceptible to unwanted growths.
7. Bones Aren’t Hard
Your bones aren’t actually the hardest part of your skeletal system. That honor goes to the teeth, which are actually stronger than steel in a pound for pound comparison. The enamel on the tooth is the hardest part, protecting the teeth with the use of calcium salts so that you can munch a nice, crunchy apple when you’re hungry. You can’t do anything with your bones. Your muscles move your arms and your legs because they’re attached to your bones. That’s what causes your skeletal system to move, so don’t worry about a skeleton walking around in the middle of the night. It’s just a dream.