ten top teachable bone facts for your students

​Whether you're trying to impart some information about Human Body Systems, you're discussing homeostasis, it's late October and you need a holiday-specific lesson, or you're looking for some random factoids to fill time between units, this post is chock-full of classroom gold!  So, don't be a ​bone-head!  Read on for the top ten teachable bone facts! 

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​#1:  Bones have purpose!  They provide the structure for our bodies. They are made of connective tissue reinforced with calcium and specialized  cells. Most bones also contain bone marrow, where blood cells are made.

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​Bones work with muscles and joints to hold our body together and support freedom of movement. This is called the musculoskeletal system. The skeleton supports and shapes the body and protects delicate internal organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs.

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​Bones contain most of our body’s calcium supply. The body is constantly building up and breaking down bone tissue as required. 

​The Skeleton

#2: ​The human skeleton is made up of 206 bones.  The most common ones are listed below.  Bone up on the scientific names to show everyone you're not a numb-skull!

• Spine – vertebral column
• Tailbone- coccyx
• Breastbone- sternum
• Shoulder blade- scapula
• Collar bone- clavicle
• Forearm- radius and ulna
• Wrist bones-carpals
• Fingers and Toes- phalanges
• Thigh bone-femur
• Kneecap- patella
• Shin bone- tibia
• Heel bones-  tarsals

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​​Bone Types

​#3:  There are four different types of bone in the human body:

• Long bones have a long, thin shape. Examples include the bones of the arms and legs (excluding the wrists, ankles, and kneecaps). With the help of muscles, long bones work as levers to permit movement.
• Short bones have a squat, cubed shape. Examples include the bones that make up the wrists and the ankles.
• Flat bones have a flattened, broad surface. Examples include ribs, shoulder blades, breastbone, and skull bones.
• Irregular bones have a shape that does not conform to the above three types. Examples include the bones of the spine (vertebrae).

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Bone Tissue

#4:  The different layers of bone tissue include:

• Periosteum – the dense, tough outer shell that contains blood vessels and nerves
• Compact Bone – the hard, smooth layer that protects the tissue within
• Spongy (cancellous) Bone – the porous, honeycombed material found inside most bones, which allows the bone to be strong yet lightweight
• Bone Marrow – the jelly-like substance found inside the cavities of some bones (including the pelvis) that produces blood cells (RBCs, WBCs, and platelets). ​

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​​Bone Cells

​#5:  Our body is constantly remodeling its skeleton by building up and breaking down bone tissue as required. As a result, each bone is rebuilt from scratch about every decade. The bone cells involved in this process include:

• Osteoblasts – the cells that build bone tissue
• Osteocytes – the cells that maintain bone tissue by controlling the mineral and calcium content
• Osteoclasts – the cells that break down old bone tissue.

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​​Bone Density

#6:  Many factors work together to ensure the strength and health of bones. Bone density relies on:

• A steady supply of dietary calcium
• Adequate vitamin D from sunshine and food
• A healthy diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals
• Various hormones including parathyroid hormone, growth hormone, calcitonin, estrogen, and testosterone
• Regular weight-bearing exercise

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​Joints

#7:  Joints hold the skeleton together and support movement. Joints may be categorized by function (range of motion) or by structure (material).  Some joints are immovable, such as skull sutures and the articulations between the teeth and jaws.  Other joints allow slight movement like the membrane between the tibia and the fibula and the pubic symphysis of the pelvic girdle. Joints allowing full movement include bone articulations in the limbs like the elbow, shoulder, and ankle.

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​#8:  ​Joints may be structurally either fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial.  Fibrous joints may be immovable (like the sutures that connect skull bones and gomphoses that connect teeth to the jaws) or slightly movable (like the syndesmosis between the tibia and fibula called the interosseous membrane).  Examples of cartilaginous joints are those between the first pair of ribs and the sternum, as well as the pubic symphysis and the vertebrae.

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#9:  Synovial joints are characterized by the presence of an articular capsule between the two joined bones. Bone surfaces at synovial joints are protected by a coating of articular cartilage. Synovial joints are often supported and reinforced by surrounding ligaments, which limit movement to prevent injury. 

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#10:  ​There are six types of synovial joints:

• Gliding joints move against each other on a single plane. Major gliding joints include the intervertebral joints and the bones of the wrists and ankles.
• Hinge joints move on just one axis. These joints allow for flexion and extension. Major hinge joints include the elbow and finger joints.
• A pivot joint provides rotation. At the top of the spine, the atlas and axis form a pivot joint that allows for rotation of the head.
• A condyloid joint allows for circular motion, flexion, and extension. The wrist joint between the radius and the carpal bones is an example of a condyloid joint.
• A saddle joint allows for flexion, extension, and other movements, but no rotation. The thumb has a saddle joint lets it cross over the palm, making it opposable.
• A ball-and-socket joint is freely movable and can rotate on any axis. The hip and shoulder joints are examples of ball and socket joints.

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Bonus teachable activity!!

Make a skeleton out of paper towel and toilet paper rolls!  Check out this easy video to see how you can use this hands-on activity to help students learn about this necessary body system

@gkatzchronicle It's always spooky season when you're learning about the skeletal system! Make a skeleton model using common household items! #teach #biologyteacher #teachertribe #biologyteacher #biology #spookyseason #skeleton #humanbodysystems #skeletalsystem #diy #skeletonmodel #scienceclass #scienceproject #diditmyself #homemade ♬ Quirky - Oleg Kirilkov

Watch G. Katz Chronicle TikTok & YouTube Videos for demonstration of how to make your own TP / PT Skeleton Model!
Find Disarticulated Skeleton Bone Cutouts Here!