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Bones are the framework upon which our bodies are built. Without them, we would be mere puddles of biological matter, unsupported and unable to do most of the things that we take for granted.
Significance
At birth, a human has 300 bones; however, by the time he reaches adulthood, he only has 206 bones. The reduction in the number of bones is a result of bones fusing together to make one bone.
Function
Bones protect internal organs and provide support for them. They act as a shock absorber for the body.
Considerations
Although bones can break, they can also heal and repair themselves.
Features
Bones live and grow in the body. They have blood vessels and nerves that are supplied with nutrients. There are three different kinds of cells contained in bone tissue: osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts.
Osteoblasts, Osteocytes and Osteoclasts
Osteoblasts are bone builders that form a bone matrix around themselves, osteocytes are cells that help control the body's mineral balance and osteoclasts help bones grow and renew--they are crucial to healing broken bones.
Fun Fact
Bones are made up of approximately 75 percent water.
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