Most people are aware that our body is made up of a total of 206 bones. However, did you know that these 206 bones are divided into two kinds of bones? We're here to share some interesting bone facts that you might not have heard of.
While bones may seem like a hard, dense material, only one type of bone fits this description. This dense, hard bone is called cortical bone and serves as the structural bones. The second type, trabecular bone, is soft and spongy. It's often found inside large bones, in your pelvis, ribs, and skull. Although less dense than cortical bone, it's still quite hard and protective.
Bones are designed to endure daily wear and tear. Some bones must be able to absorb two to three times your body weight and force. They must also be resilient since you take one to three million steps per year. Bones are built to withstand constant use.
Your bones come together at the joints. Some, like your knee joint, have a wide range of motion, while others, like the joints in your cranium, don't move at all. Almost all bones in the human skeleton are connected to each other. For example, the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone. However, the only bone in the human body not connected to another is the hyoid, a V-shaped bone located at the base of the tongue and held in place by muscles and ligaments from the base of the skull. This bone enables humans and our Neanderthal ancestors to talk, breathe, and swallow.
More than half of your bones are located in your hands and feet. There are 54 bones in your hands (fingers and wrists) and 26 bones in the human foot. While we typically think of one type of skeletal image, men's and women's skeletons look surprisingly alike. However, the shape, size, and angle of a woman's pelvis are specially geared for childbirth.
Now, let's discuss the smallest bones in the human body, known as the ossicles. They consist of the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup), with the stirrup being the smallest bone. Measuring only two to three millimeters, this innermost bone receives sound vibrations and transfers them to the cochlea for the brain to interpret.
The most fragile bones in the human body are the toe bones. The bones in the small toe are very fragile and prone to breaking easily. Most people end up breaking a toe in their lifetime. The phalanges in the toes are composed of three bones: distal, middle, and proximal phalanx. The big toe contains only two, lacking the middle phalanx.
Keeping your bones strong is essential. Bones lose strength over time, and maintaining their strength requires consuming calcium-rich foods like dairy products, broccoli, and certain fish. Weight-bearing exercise is also crucial for bone health. Properly caring for your skeletal system ensures a lifetime of movement and better health.
