It seems like all humans have the same number of bones, but that’s not the case. Their numbers decrease until they reach adulthood.
Bones play an important role in ensuring mobility, such as walking, keeping organs safe, and even sustaining life.
How many bones do our bodies need? By the time a person turns 25, he has 206 bones.
There are more bones than this before adulthood. Young children have about 300 bones and cartilage. Over time, some bones are ‘fused’ as they mature into an adult body. Soft and soft bones immediately after birth become hard until early adulthood, and fusion occurs. Calcium intake in childhood strengthens cartilage into stronger bones. This results in changes in body shape and skeletal structure.
The number and size of bones vary from region to region. What is the largest and longest bone in our body? The bone in the thigh is the longest and largest. It is long and hard enough to occupy a quarter of its height. These bones support body weight and contribute to movement of the legs.
In addition to the femur, long bones such as the humerus, calf, and shinbone are responsible for moving the body and carrying the body’s weight.
Conversely, the hand has 27 small, complex bones. Of the 206 bones, 54 are in the hand. This allows humans to perform delicate manual work. There are 52 bones in the foot, 26 each.
The bones in our hands are not the smallest bones in our body. The smallest bone is the ‘stapes’, which is responsible for transmitting sound vibrations inside the ear.
Bone is one of the hardest tissues in our body, but as we age, bone health can also be a red flag. With an aging society, more and more people are suffering from bone health problems. In particular, the fatality rate is very high when a fracture (broken bone) occurs in the hip joint. According to the analysis of the Korean Society of Bone Metabolism, the mortality rate within 1 year of hip fracture surgery patients is 15% and the mortality rate within 2 years is 25%. If left untreated, the mortality rate rises significantly to 70% within two years.
To keep your bones healthy, you need to supplement with sufficient nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. It is best to stay away from factors that cause calcium loss, such as tobacco, alcohol, and coffee. Regular exercise is also essential. In particular, weight-bearing exercise using your own body weight helps maintain bone strength.
By Moon Se-young, staff reporter [email protected]
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