Purpose

• The skeletal system helps humans stand erect and also helps protect the soft insides of the body. The red marrow inside some bones is vital for blood cell production. The skeletal system also helps store some important minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.
  
  

Divisions

• The first skeletal type is the axial, and includes the skull, spine and ribs. The appendicular skeleton, which includes shoulder, arm, leg and pelvic bones, connects the body's appendages to the axial skeleton.
  
  

Bone Classification

• Bones can be classified by shape, origin and texture.
  
  

Smallest and Largest

• The longest bone is the femur or thighbone, which is one-fourth a person's height. The smallest bone is the stirrup, located in the ear.
  
  

Skeletal System Health Care

• Maintenance of the skeletal system is two-fold. First, a person needs adequate calcium intake, achieved by eating dairy products and dark, leafy vegetables. Second, a person must perform weight-bearing exercises like walking or yoga.
  
  

Bones by the Number

• Humans are born with 270 bones, but as our bodies grow, bones fuse and we end up with 206. While the hand has 27 bones, the face has 14. The skeletal system has about 230 movable and semi-movable parts.