What Is the Function of the Skeleton System?
The skeletal system is responsible for protection of organs and support for movement. Without the skeleton, humans would be unable to move or support the body for upright posture. The skeletal system is also responsible for the creation of blood cells in the marrow. The skeletal system is connected to muscles using tendons and other bones through ligaments. These components are all necessary for the body's shape and form.
Other People Are Reading
-
Support
-
The skeletal system is the support for the muscles of the body. Imagine the body without the skeletal system, and you'll realize why it's important for posture and movement. The skeletal system is connected to muscles, so when the person decides to move a body part such as a leg or arm, the muscles contract and move the extremity.
Protection
-
The skeletal muscle protects the body from blunt force. The most important organs of the body---such as the lungs, heart, brain and spinal cord---are surrounded by tough bone that is not easily broken. The rib cage protects the heart and lungs from injury. The skull surrounds the brain, protecting it from trauma. The spinal column runs up and down the posterior side of a human; it contains the spinal cord and protects it from injury.
-
Blood Cells
-
The vascular system contains red and white blood cells that circulate throughout the body. Bone marrow is the starting point for all blood cells. The marrow is a soft bone tissue that lies within the outer, hardened surface of the skeletal bone. The femur, which is located in the upper part of the leg, is the largest bone in the body, and it's responsible for a majority of the blood cells produced.
Energy
-
Most people have heard of red bone marrow, but there is also yellow bone marrow. Yellow marrow contains few blood cells, but it is mainly comprised of fatty adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is used in the storage of fats for energy. Yellow marrow contains fat storage for energy. When blood glucose is low and cells require energy, fat stores are used and distributed to tissue in the form of triglycerides.
Minerals
-
The skeletal bone is also a storage container for certain minerals needed by the body. Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are stored in bone for future use. Calcium is also necessary for strong bones. A deficiency in calcium and vitamin D is associated with the childhood disease called rickets. Poor bone calcium and vitamin D is also associated with osteoporosis disease in the elderly.
-
