Modern Australian
Men's Weekly

.

Curious Kids: Why do we have bones?

  • Written by Emma Duncan, Professor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland

This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children. The Conversation is asking kids to send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. All questions are welcome – serious, weird or wacky!

My name is Jake and I’m four and a half. I live in Perth, WA. I would like to know why we have bones. Thanks – Jake, age 4.5, Perth.

Thank you for your excellent question, Jake.

As you know, humans have lots of bones - the flat bones that form our skull, curved bones that form our chest, long bones in our arms and legs, stacked bones in our backbone, small bones in our hands and feet, and tiny bones in our ears.

Why do we have all these bones? And why are they of so many different shapes and sizes? After all, some animals don’t have any bones at all (like jellyfish) and others just have a hard layer on the outside of their body (like crabs).

But along with all the other animals who do have bones - fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals – we have a skeleton, because it helps us to survive and to live active and healthy lives. And our bones help us do this in many different ways.

First, our bones protect our insides. Our skull wraps around our brain like a helmet. Our cage of ribs protects our heart and lungs - the spaces in between the ribs allow our chest to get bigger and smaller with each breath. Our kidneys are tucked up under the ribs at the back; our liver is under the ribs on the right and our spleen under our ribs on the left. All these organs are kept safe by the hard armour of our bones.

Read more: Curious Kids: How do x-rays see inside you?

Second, our bones mean we can move. Our muscles attach onto our bones using special tough tissue called tendons. When a muscle squeezes, it pulls on the tendon, and the tendon then pulls on the bone – and that’s how we move!

Big muscles pull big bones, like our arms and legs, so that we can walk and run and lift and carry. Our smaller muscles and bones help us with smaller movements - little tricky jobs like doing up a button or writing with a pencil. If you stand in your bare feet and close your eyes, you can feel all the small muscles and bones in your feet moving around to help you keep your balance. The bones and muscles of our spine help us stand up straight, and to bend from side to side and to twist to the left and the right.

Third, our bones hold our bone marrow. This is where we make the tiny particles that make up our blood - the red blood cells that carry oxygen, the white blood cells that help fight germs, and the platelets that help you stop bleeding if you accidentally cut yourself.

Our bones also hold lots of calcium. Partly this is what makes bone so hard - but calcium is also very important for the electricity of our heart and our muscles and many other cells. Our bones ensure that the calcium level in our bloodstream is kept very steady.

Read more: Curious Kids: Where did the first person come from?

Some bones have very special jobs. For example, our jaw bones hold our teeth firmly in place, so that we can chew. Our ears have very special tiny bones that transmit sound so that we can hear. These are the hardest bones in our body!

So you can see our bones have all sorts of different jobs that help us to live.

Our bones grow and change over our whole life. You already know that children grow taller as they get older - this is because your bones are growing longer. But even after you have stopped growing taller, your bones will keep on growing in other ways. When we use our bones, they grow stronger and tougher.

This is why exercise is so important for our bones. Walking, running, jumping, skipping – all these things help our bones grow strong, to give us a healthy skeleton for life.

Hello, curious kids! Have you got a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to us. You can:

* Email your question to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au * Tell us on Twitter by tagging @ConversationEDU with the hashtag #curiouskids, or * Tell us on Facebook

Curious Kids: Why do we have bones? CC BY-ND Please tell us your name, age and which city you live in. You can send an audio recording of your question too, if you want. Send as many questions as you like! We won’t be able to answer every question but we will do our best.

Authors: Emma Duncan, Professor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland

Read more http://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-do-we-have-bones-90246

Powering Shepparton’s Businesses: Expert Commercial Electrical Services You Can Count On

When it comes to running a successful business, having reliable, compliant, and efficient electrical systems is non-negotiable. From small retail ou...

Maximise Efficiency: Cleaner Solar Panels for Optimal Performance

Solar panels are a smart investment in energy efficiency, sustainability, and long-term savings—especially here in Cairns, where the tropical sun ...

7 Common Air Conditioner Issues in Melbourne – And How to Fix Them

Image by freepik Living in Melbourne, we all know how unpredictable the weather can be. One moment it’s cold and windy, the next it’s a scorchin...

Powering Palm QLD with Reliable Electrical Solutions

Image by pvproductions on Freepik When it comes to finding a trustworthy electrician Palm QLD locals can count on, the team at East Coast Sparkies s...

The Smart Way to Grow Online: SEO Management Sydney Businesses Can Rely On

If you’re a Sydney-based business owner, you already know the digital space is crowded. But with the right strategy, you don’t need to shout the...

What Your Car Says About You: The Personality Behind the Vehicle

You can tell a lot about someone by the car they drive—or at least, that’s what people think. True Blue Mobile Mechanics reckon the car says a l...

The Confidence Curve: Why Boudoir Photography Is the Empowerment Trend You Didn’t Know You Needed

Boudoir photography has been quietly taking over social feeds, Pinterest boards, and personal milestones—and for good reason. It’s not just abou...

Understanding Level 2 Electricians: Why Sydney Residents Need Licenced Experts for Complex Electrical Work

When it comes to electrical work around the home or business, not all electricians are created equal. In Sydney, particularly when you're dealing wi...

Retirement Anchored in Model Boat Building for Waterford’s Doug Unsold

WATERFORD — When Doug Unsold sees his ship come in, it’s usually one he’s crafted with his own hands. The 67-year-old retiree from Waterford ...

The Science Behind Alarm Clocks and Your Circadian Rhythm

Waking up on time isn’t just about setting an alarm—it’s about working with your body, not against it. At the heart of every restful night and...

How to Use Plants to Create a Calming Atmosphere in Your Home

In today’s fast-paced world, cultivating a calm, soothing environment at home has never been more important. Whether you live in a busy urban apar...

How Maths Tutoring Can Help Students Master Maths

Mathematics can be a daunting subject for many students, often causing stress and frustration. However, maths tutoring has proven to be an effective...

Refurbished iPads Are Better Than New Ones (Here's Why)

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Apple's refurbished iPad program has quietly become one of the best deals in tech. While everyone obsesses over the ...

Your Guide to Finding the Right GP: What Perth City Doctors Offer Today

Choosing a General Practitioner (GP) is one of the most important health decisions you’ll make. Luckily, Perth’s vibrant CBD now hosts a new ge...

Why Every Mining Operation Needs a Robust Safety Management System

Mining is one of the backbones of the Australian economy, particularly in Western Australia. Back in 2019-20, mining contributed 10.4% of Australiaâ...

Australian Classic Literature Enjoys Resurgence

Welcome back to the good old days of storytelling! As the modern world becomes increasingly more demanding, returning to childhood favourites offers...

How to Choose the Right Lawyers in Sydney for Your Situation

When faced with a legal issue, selecting the right legal representation can make all the difference. Whether you're dealing with a personal injury, ...

Building a Governance Model for Headless Content Management at Scale

Image by pch.vector on Freepik There's never been a better time to implement a headless content management system (CMS) to gain the flexibility and ...