BONE STUDY

Directions: Use the bones in front of you at each station to answer the following questions based on the structure and functions of the bones. Answer all questions in complete sentences and full on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Leg Bones:

  1. Measure the length of your femur in cm and record it. Measure your total height in cm and record it. How do they compare?
  2. Why are the leg bones so thick?
  3. The kneecap (patella bone) covers the knee joint, what do you think its function might be? Be specific.

2. Foot

  1. How many bones can be found in one foot?
  2. Compare and contrast the bones found in the hand and the foot. Consider structure (size and shape) as well as function. (You may have to wait to answer this question)
  3. Try putting the human foot together will all of the pieces.

3. Pelvis

  1. What type of joint would be found where the femur meets the Pelvic Girdle?
  2. All mammals at one point in their life have a tail; the human fetus has a tail between the developmental stages of 14-22 weeks. Its secondary function is to serve as a place for muscles to connect. Identify and draw the tailbone.

4. Arm

  1. What type of joint is found where your radius and ulna meet your humerus bone?
  2. Of the two bones, which is the radius and which is the ulna? How are they different?

5. Hand

  1. How many bones are found within the human hand?
  2. Why do you think the hand has so many bones and why are they so small? (Think about the ability bones in your hand have compared to bones in your arm)
  3. Try putting the human hand together with all of the pieces.

6. Spine

  1. In addition to the five fused vertebrae in your sacrum and four found in your tailbone, how many vertebrae are found in the human spine?
  2. The vertebrae of the human spine contain an essential piece of the nervous system, the spinal cord, which transmits the electrical signals sent from the brain to every other region within our body. Thus, what is the function of the vertebral column or spine?

7. Ribcage

  1. When pieced together the ribcage creates a hollow cavity. What is the purpose of the ribcage?
  2. How many ribs make up the average human’s ribcage?
  3. Cartilage makes up the majority of the front of the ribcage, joining the rib bones to the sternum (breastbone). What makes cartilage better suited for this area rather than bone?

TURN OVER

8. Skull

  1. Measure the thickness of the skull in mm, what is it? How do you think this protects your brain?
  2. What do you think the springs represent that connect the jaw to the skull?
  3. You will notice lines on the skull that separate the skull into different pieces; these represent the location of where cartilage has fused into bone. Why is it important that the

skull does not fully fuse until the early 20’s?

9. Skeleton practice- Look at the skeleton and write the names of the bones.

Bone Study Key

Leg Bones:

  1. The length of a femur is 30-48 cm and the student’s height is 125 – 180 cm. The femur is about ¼ of the person’s height.
  2. The leg bones are thick so they can support the weight of the body.
  3. The patella/ knee cap protects the knee joint and allows for more movement of the leg.

Foot

  1. There are 26 bones in the foot.
  2. The bones in the hand are similar in number but are smaller than in the foot. This is important for the fine motor skills of the hand (small movements).

Pelvis

  1. There is a ball and socket joint connecting the femur to the pelvic girdle (hip).
  2. Students should have a drawing of the pelvis with the tailbone labeled.

Arm

  1. A hinge joint connects the humerus to the radius and ulna (elbow).
  2. The radius is closer to the thumb and the ulna is closer to the pinky. The radius has a bigger wrist component than the ulna.

Hand

  1. There are 27 bones in the hand.
  2. The hand has a lot of bones because this allows for more movement. The hands have to make very small movements and can do this because of the many bones in it.

Spine

  1. There are 33 total vertebrae in the spine. Other than the 5 sacral and the 4 in the tailbone, there are 24 vertebrae.
  2. The vertebral column protects the spinal cord. It also allows the back and neck to move. Finally, it supports the body and is a structural base for the ribs.

Ribcage

  1. The ribs protect the heart and lungs. They also help expand the chest for breathing.
  2. The average human has 24 ribs.
  3. The cartilage on the front of the ribs allows for movement while breathing and also gives the ribs some flexibility so they don’t break as easily.

Skull

  1. The skull is about 0.6 cm (1/4 in) thick. Although it is thin, it protects the brain because it is so hard.
  2. The springs represent the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the skull. It contains muscle and connective tissue.
  3. It is important that the skull does not fuse until the early 20’s so that the brain can continue to grow without getting injured.

Bone healing

  1. In the first stage, a clot starts to form.
  2. In the second stage, cartilage is created.
  3. In the third stage, cartilage is turned into solid bone.
  4. The bone continues to heal even after these four stages.

Skeleton practice

  1. Radius
  2. Patella
  3. Femur
  4. Ulna
  5. Humerus
  6. Clavicle
  7. Ribs
  8. Fibula
  9. tibia