Your musculoskeletal
system:
Keep it moving!
Bones provide
structure and
protection
Not only do our 206 bones give our bodies
shape, but they also protect us from harm.
For example, your skull protects your brain,
and your ribs protect your heart and lungs.
Think about all of the important functions
these organs have while they are
protected by your bones.
Humans start out with more than 300 bones
at birth; as we grow, some of these smaller
bones join (fuse) together to make larger
bones. Around age 25, our bones stop
growing, and we end up with 206 of them.
Your bones grow
as you grow. The average
female’s bones grow until
she is about 16 years old;
the average male’s bones
stop growing when
he reaches 18.
Y
Clavi
cle
Phalanges
Femur
Metatarsals
Skull
Fibula
Ulna
Radius
Humerus
Scapula
Mandible
Maxilla
Vertebrae
Tibia
Patella
Tarsals
Carpal
Ribs
Pelvis
Vertebrae
Sacrum
Phalanges
ou know that your
nervous system controls
your thinking and reason-
ing, and that your circulatory
system keeps your heart pumping.
But what keeps your whole body
moving? From simply standing upright
to running in gym class, it’s your
musculoskeletal system that puts
every part of your body in motion.
The musculoskeletal system is
made up of three components:
bones, joints and muscles. These
groups work together at all times
to help you stay strong and active.
Let’s take a closer look at each
of these important players.
