Chapter 8.4, Problem 18BYGO

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

The interior supporting structure of the human body is bone. At birth, it comprises of about 270 bones. This number decreased gradually to 206 by maturity, due to fusion of bones. The bone mass reaches peak around the age 21. The skeletal system is separated into appendicular and axial. The skeletal system is made up of cartilages, bones, and ligaments. They are linked together to develop a stretchy and strong basis for the body. The forerunner of most bones during the embryonic development is termed as the cartilage. It performs like a precursor to form a fully developed skeletal system. At the joint, the bones are clamped together by the ligaments. The tendons help in attaching the muscle to the bone.