Your body's strong frame
The skeletal system is made of all the bones in your body joined together. An adult has about 206 bones! Bones are hard and strong, and together they give your body its shape and hold you up straight.
Key idea
The skeletal system does three big jobs: it gives the body shape and support, it helps the body move, and it protects soft organs inside.
How bones help you
Where two bones meet is called a joint. Joints let you bend and turn, like at your elbow and knee. Muscles pull on bones to make them move. Some bones act like shields:
- The skull protects the brain.
- The ribs protect the heart and lungs.
- The backbone protects the spinal cord and holds you upright.
Baby bones are soft at first, but they slowly grow harder and stronger as you get older. Sitting and standing straight, and playing outside, help your skeleton stay healthy. Without a skeleton, your body would be soft and floppy and could not stand up at all.
Remember
- Bones are living parts of your body, not just sticks.
- Eating calcium-rich food, like milk, helps bones grow strong.