Bones

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Bones

Bones (/boʊnz/), from the Old English ban, are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They provide structure to the body, assist in movement, protect various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, and store minerals.

Structure

Bones are composed of two types of tissue: compact bone and spongy bone. The compact bone forms the outer layer of the bone, while the spongy bone forms the inner layer of the bone. The compact bone is dense and strong, while the spongy bone is less dense and more flexible.

Types of Bones

There are five types of bones in the human body: long bones, short bones, flat bones, irregular bones, and sesamoid bones.

  • Long bones are characterized by a shaft, the diaphysis, that is much greater in length than width. They are primarily composed of compact bone. Examples include the femur, tibia, and humerus.
  • Short bones are approximately as wide as they are long and have a primary function of providing support and stability with little movement. Examples include the bones of the wrist (carpals) and ankle (tarsals).
  • Flat bones are thin and generally curved, with two parallel layers of compact bones sandwiching a layer of spongy bone. Examples include the skull and rib bones.
  • Irregular bones have complex shapes and include the bones of the spine (vertebrae) and hip bones.
  • Sesamoid bones are small, round bones that are embedded in tendons. The most commonly known sesamoid bone is the patella (knee cap).

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