探索骨骼和肌肉如何用于支撑、保护和运动

What are limbs / vertebrae / the skull?
What are the functions of the limbs / vertebrae / skull?
How are these bones connected to one another?
How does the hand move?
Can you create a working model of the hand?

Quizzes in pupil zone.

Unit knowledge organiser and test available in documents (coming soon)

Science behind the Science

Did you know that all the bones in the human body are collectively known as the skeletal system? The skeletal system includes: bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. The tendons attach our bones to the muscles so that we have the flexibility to move and the ligaments attach bones to other bones. This system provides strength and rigidity, so that we don’t flop around. We have 206 bones in our body and each one has a different function and purpose. For example, the skull (the bony structure that forms the head in vertebrates) offers protection for the much softer and fragile brain and the rib cage protects our hearts and lungs. The skull is made up of two parts: the cranium and the mandible and keeps in place all the body parts in the head. It is the bones in our arms and legs that allow us to move around by providing a support system for our muscles.  

The human spine is made up of twenty-four bones that are collectively known as the vertebrae. It is the ligaments and the muscles that connect these interlocking bones to form the spinal column, which gives the body its shape and function to protect the spinal cord. 

Bones are made of minerals like calcium. If your body does not have enough calcium it will use the supply in your bones, making them more fragile and weak. The outside of the bone is hard, smooth and solid and is known as the cortical bone. The inside of the bone is spongey and porous and because of this, is lighter which makes it easier for us to move around and leaves space for blood vessels. This allows for slight bending. This is known as the trabecular or cancellous bone. Marrow is found in the centre and is a soft substance. There are two types: red marrow and yellow marrow. Red marrow is where both red and white blood cells are produced, and yellow marrow is mainly fat cells. 

Did you know that our bones connect at special places called joints? Examples of joints include: the knees, elbows, shoulders, and the hips. A smooth substance known as cartilage provides protection for the bones as they rub against one another, preventing friction. 

Mission Assignment: The string represents the tendons and the straws represent your bones. The human hand has 27 individual bones (eight carpal bones, five metacarpal bones and fourteen finger bones) and can be viewed in three sections by its joint functions. Your wrist (made up of eight small bone known as the carpal bones) links your hand to your arm and allows us to flex, extend and even tilt our hands. The eight carpal bones are held together by ligaments and form two rows. The five metacarpal bones extend from the second row of the carpal bones. One of the bones aids the thumb’s proximal phalanx to make the carpometacarpal joint which gives the thumb better freedom in movement. Your fingers have three bones and your thumbs have two.