Layers of the Bone Material

Bone material consists of several layers. The surface of a bone is covered with a thin membrane called periosteum. Beneath the periosteum is a hard, compact bone. Inside this hard bone is a spongy bone. Inside the spongy bone is the bone marrow, where red and white blood cells are produced.

WHAT BONES ARE MADE OF Why are bones hard and tough? Bones contain minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and potassium. These minerals make the bones hard and rigid. Bones also contain a fiberlike protein called collagen. Collagen makes bones tough so that they can stand stress and strain. Like other body tissues, bones are alive. Bones grow. But although they get bigger, their shape remains the same. If you happen to break a bone while playing, the bone can repair itself.

WARNING: If you do break a bone, inform your elders right away so that you will get proper medical attention!

MAIN IDEA Bones have several layers, each different from the others. Bones contain minerals and protein so they are hard and tough. They do not break easily.

Did You Know? Bones make up about 12 percent of your body's mass. If your mass is 42 kilograms, your bones would be only a little more than 5 kilograms. But for its mass, bone is as strong as steel and stronger than the same amount of reinforced concrete.

What makes bones hard and strong? Bones are hard and strong because of the minerals they contain. What evidence shows that bones are alive? Bones grow and can repair themselves in case they break.

What makes bones tough? Bones are tough because they contain a protein called collagen.

How Bones Are Joined The point where two bones meet is called a joint. Some joints do not allow bones to move. There are joints which allow limited movement and there are joints which allow different kinds of movements.

Fixed Joints The cranium which protects the brain consists of eight ( 8 ) fairly flat bones. The joints between these bones are firmly secured by fibrous tissues. Thus, the bones cannot move. These joints are called fixed joints. Fixed joints, or sutures, do not allow any movement.

Movable Joints
Turn your head to the left, then to the right. You can do this because of the pivot joint at the point where a bone of the head meets the neck bone. A pivot joint allows limited movement only. Try to bend, then straighten your fingers. Bending and straightening are movements made possible by hinge joints. You can also bend and straighten your arms and legs. Aside from these, you can also rotate them. The knee and elbow are modified hinge joints. Move your arms sideward, forward, backward and around. You can do all these because of the ball-and-socket joint where your upper arm bone meets your shoulder bone. The rounded end of your upper arm bone fits into a hollow or socket at the end of your shoulder bone. The joints between vertebrae are called gliding joints. Gliding joints enable the vertebra to do limited twisting, turning or sliding.

Main Idea Fixed joints do not allow bones to move, while movable joints allow bones to move in different ways.

What would happen if all the bones in your body had fixed joints? If all joints were fixed, the body could not move at all.

Main Idea Cartilage and synovial fluid prevent wear and tear of bones that meet at a movable joint.

Structure of a Movable Joint In movable joints, the surfaces of the bones are coated by smooth and slippery cartilage ( a fibrous connective tissue ). This serves as the cushion between the two bones. If they happen to bump one another during movement, the cartilage would act as the shock absorber. In this way, the bones will not get hurt. A sticky oil- like substance, the synovial fluid, lubricates the joint. The fluid enables the bones to move smoothly. The movable joint is surrounded by ligaments. Ligaments are tough bands of elastic tissue that join the ends of bones and prevent too much movement of the joint.

Differentiate the two kinds of joints. Give examples of each. Fixed joints are secured by fibrous tissues so they do not move. Movable joints are coated with cartilage which acts as shock absorber. Synovial fluid lubricates bones so they can move smoothly. Examples of fixed joints are the sutures of the skull. Examples of movable joints are the knee joint, elbow joint, joints between bones of the fingers, joints between arms and shoulders.

movement of the joint.

Did You Know? A contortionist can bend and twist his/her body easily and gracefully because he/she has very loose ligaments. .

LET US RECALL 1. The eight bones that make up your cranium do not move because they arejoined together by fixed joints. 2. You can make circular movements with your shoulders and hips because both have ball-and-socket joints. 3. Your spine is flexible because the vertebrae have gliding joints. 4. Fixed joints are made secure by fibrous tissue. 5. You can bend and stretch your elbows because they have hinge joints.

6. You can turn your head to the left or to the right because the bone of the head and the neck have pivot joints. 7. Bones that move are held together by ligaments. 8. Bones are prevented from grinding against each other by the cartilage. 9. Another name for fixed joint is suture. 10. People who can bend parts of their body easily and gracefully have loose ligaments.

REMEMBER THESE Bones differ in size and shape.They also differ in their functions. Bones are made mostly of calcium and phosphorus, which make them hard, and collagen, which makes them tough. A joint is a point where two or more bones meet. Joints may be fixed or movable. Fixed joints, or sutures, do not allow bones to move.

 Movable joints such as the ball-and-socket joint, hinge joint, gliding joint and pivot joint allow movement of the bones. Cartilage at the ends of movable bones acts as a shock absorber and prevents wear and tear of the bones. The synovial fluid lubricates the joints and enables the bones to move smoothly. Ligaments join the ends of the bones and prevent too much movement of the joints.