Human bone anatomy is composed of hundreds of bones from head to toe. By recognizing bone anatomy, you can understand the function of each bone location and know how to maintain its health.
The main function of bones is to support and move the body. In addition, bones are also able to protect internal organs from damage, store important nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, and form blood cells. Human bone anatomy is divided into two major groups, namely axial and appendicular bone anatomy.
Axial Bone Anatomy
Axial bones are groups of bones that form the main axis or midline of the body.
Here are some parts of the bone that are included in the anatomy of the axial bone:
Skull
The skull of an adult consists of 22 bones, namely 8 skull bones that protect the brain and 14 facial bones that play a major role in shaping the facial structure.
The condition of the human skull as a baby is different when it grows up. When born, the skull bones have not fused to make it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. However, with age, the gaps between the skull bones will close and become stronger to protect the delicate brain structures.
Ribs and sternum
The body contains the sternum and ribs. These bones are shaped like a cage that can protect important organs in the upper body, including the heart, lungs, and liver.
The ribs consist of 12 pairs, namely the first 7 pairs of ribs are attached to the spine and sternum, the next 3 pairs of ribs are connected to the sternum via cartilage, and the last 2 pairs of ribs are floating not connected to the sternum or ribs at the back. on it.
Spine
You can have an upright body because it is supported by the spine that supports the neck to the buttocks. Not only that, the spine also serves to protect the spinal cord and nerves.
In the human body, the spine consists of 33 vertebrae which are divided into 5 parts, namely 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 upper back vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 5 vertebrae that become one, and 4 coccyx vertebrae which also form a backbone. one.
Appendicular Bone Anatomy
The appendicular bone is a group of bones that make up the limbs, namely the arms and legs, as well as the bones that connect the limbs to the bones in the midline of the body, namely the shoulders and pelvis.
Here are some parts of the bone that are included in the anatomy of the appendicular bone:
hand bones
The bone anatomy of the hand consists of the bones of the arm, wrist, palm, and fingers. The bone in the upper arm, just above the elbow, is called the humerus. Then, under the elbow there are two bones, namely the radius and ulna.
Each is wide at the ends and thin in the middle, so that it is able to provide strength when it meets other bones.
Meanwhile, the wrist is composed of 8 small bones and 5 bones that make up the palm of the hand. Each finger consists of 3 vertebrae, except the thumb which only consists of 2 bone spaces.
Foot bone
Feet have a flexible bony anatomy that allows you to stand up straight and move around, such as running, walking, or jumping. The bones in the legs are very large and strong to support the weight of the body.
The bones in the legs start from the hips to the knees. This bone is called the femur or thigh bone. It is the largest bone in the human body. This femur is attached to the pelvic bone.
In the knee there is a triangular-shaped bone called the shell or patella which is useful for protecting the knee joint. In the calf, there are the tibia and fibula bones. These two bones are flat in the middle and wide at the ends.
At the ankle there is a talus bone. This bone is attached to the tibia and fibula to form the ankle. Beneath it is the heel bone which is connected to 6 other small bones.
In the sole of the foot there are 5 long bones that are connected to the toes. Each finger has three small bones, except for the big toe only 2 bones. In total, one foot and ankle have 26 bones.
Pelvis
The feet are attached to a circular group of bones called the pelvis. The pelvis is shaped like a bowl that can support the spine.
The pelvis is made up of the 2 large hip bones in front and the sacrum and tailbone in the back. This bone serves as a strong protective ring around the digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system of humans.
How to Maintain Bone Health
Because it has an important function, bones need to be kept healthy in an effort to reduce the risk of various common bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, or spinal disorders. Here are a few ways you can do this:
- Eat calcium-rich foods, such as spinach, soybeans, okra, sardines, and salmon
- Meet the needs of vitamin D, such as beef liver, egg yolks, cheese, soy milk, mushrooms, tuna, and salmon
- Change your lifestyle by quitting smoking and quitting alcohol
- Doing regular exercise, such as light running, leisurely walking, or going up and down stairs
Understanding the anatomy of bones and their functions can be the first step for you to maintain bone health. Immediately consult an orthopedic doctor if symptoms or complaints related to the bone area occur.