Do you know how many bones we have in our bodies? An average adult has about 206 bones. These bones are divided into two main parts. One is your accessory skeletal system, and the other is your axial skeletal system. Today we are going to talk about this axial skeletal system. Simply put, this is the part of our body that is in the middle, like the trunk.
What is the axial skeleton?
The axial skeleton is the system of bones that are arranged along the vertical axis of your body, that is, straight down the middle. Think of it like the trunk of a tree, it forms the basic framework, the central core of our body. The word "axial" comes from the word "axis," which means "axis" or "middle line." So these bones are located along the central core of our body.
What is the difference between the axial and accessory skeletal systems?
Now you have a question, what is the difference between the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton? It's very simple. The axial skeleton is the bones in your head, neck, back, and chest . All the other bones, that is, the bones that are attached to the axial skeleton, belong to the appendicular skeleton . For example, your shoulders, hips, arms, fingers, legs, and toes all belong to the appendicular skeleton. Simply put, the axial skeleton is in the middle, and the appendicular skeleton is attached to it and spreads out like branches.
What is the main function of the axial skeleton?
So what is the main function of this axial skeletal system? Think of it like the main support in our body.
This axial skeleton protects your brain, spinal cord, and important organs inside your body, providing them with a cushion-like protection.
Also, the muscles that move your head, neck, and torso are connected to this same skeletal system. The muscles that help you breathe and the muscles that help keep some parts of the accessory skeletal system stable are also connected to this. In other words, this is not just a few bones, but a system that performs a very important function in our body.
How many bones are there in the axial skeletal system?
Do you know how many bones are in the axial skeleton? There are 80 bones, to be exact. This is a significant number out of the 206 bones in our entire skeleton.
What are the five main parts of the axial skeletal system?
The axial skeleton consists of five main parts. Let's take a look at what they are and how important each part is to our body.
1. Skull
Your skull is made up of two parts: eight cranial bones and fourteen facial bones.
- Cranial Bones: These are the bones that make up the top and back of your head and support and protect your brain . These include two parietal bones (left and right), two temporal bones (left and right), the frontal bone (forming the forehead), the occipital bone (back of the head), the ethmoid bone, and the sphenoid bone .
- Facial Bones: These are the bones that make up your face and act as entrances to your body (for example, your nose and mouth). These include the two maxilla bones (upper jaw), the two zygomatic bones (cheekbones), the mandible bone (the lower jaw, the only skull bone that moves when you speak or eat), the two nasal bones, the two palatine bones (which form the roof of your mouth), the two nasal concha bones, the two lacrimal bones (which connect the tear glands), and the vomer bone (which divides the nasal cavity) .
2. Auditory Ossicles
Next up is the ear. The auditory ossicles in your middle ear are the smallest bones in your body. These three tiny bones are responsible for transmitting vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. They act like a little bridge.
- There are three bones in each ear: the Malleus (hammer-shaped), the Incus (anvil-shaped), and the Stapes (line-shaped).
- So there are six little bones like these in each ear. Without them, our hearing would be very poor.
3. Hyoid Bone in the Neck
The hyoid bone is located in the neck. It is a horseshoe-shaped bone located at the front of the neck. What is special is that this bone is not directly connected to any other bone. It is held in place by muscles and ligaments between your jawbone and your thyroid gland. The hyoid bone helps you breathe, speak, and swallow . It also contains the muscles that help you move your tongue.
4. Vertebral Column
Next is our spine, or vertebral column. This is the main support for our body. It has 24 vertebrae , plus your sacrum and coccyx . This spinal column extends from the base of your skull to your pelvis. It is divided into five main parts:
- Seven Cervical Vertebrae: These are what make up your neck and support your head. They help you turn your head up, down, and side to side.
- Twelve Thoracic Vertebrae: These are the anchors at the back of your rib cage (ribs). The ribs attach to these.
- Five Lumbar Vertebrae: These are the ones that bear the most weight in your body. The back muscles are also involved. They play a big role when we bend over and lift weights.
- Sacrum: This is a triangular bone made up of five vertebrae that come together. It forms the back wall of your pelvis.
- Coccyx: This is located at the lowest point of the spine. It is a small bone formed by the fusion of three to five vertebrae. Many of the body's muscles are attached to it.
Our spinal cord , the main nerve pathway from the brain, runs through the spine. So the spinal cord also protects it.
5. Thoracic Cage/Ribcage
Finally, the chest wall, or thoracic cage. This is what protects your vital organs like your heart and lungs. It's like a safety cage. It also contains the muscles involved in breathing and moving your arms. The bones in the chest wall are:
- Sternum: This is a long, flat bone that runs down the middle of the chest. Many of the ribs attach to it in front.
- 24 Ribs: Everyone usually has 12 pairs of ribs. These connect to the thoracic vertebrae at the back and (mostly) to the sternum at the front, forming the rib cage.
What diseases can affect the axial skeleton?
Okay, now let's look at what diseases can affect this axial skeletal system. Some of them occur with changes in the body as we age. Others can be caused by diseases or accidents. Here are some of the conditions:
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: This is a type of arthritis. Over time, it causes inflammation of the spine and back pain. Over time, the vertebrae can fuse together, making it impossible to bend the spine.
- Axial Spondylometaphyseal Dysplasia: This is a genetic bone growth disorder that can cause a decrease in height (stature).
- Fibrous Dysplasia: In this condition, fibrous, bone-like tissue forms instead of healthy bone, making the bones more likely to break.
- Fractures: Bone density decreases as we age. Bones with low density can break easily. Even something like a fall can cause a bone to break.
- Melorheostosis: This is a very rare disease in which the outer layers of the bones thicken or widen.
- Osteoporosis: This is also a well-known disease. If you don't get enough calcium or are deficient in vitamin D, your bones can become weak and easily break.
- Paget's disease of the bone: This is a disorder in which the bones grow larger and weaker than normal. This can cause bone pain, arthritis, and bone deformities.
If such situations occur, it is very important to seek medical advice immediately.
How do we keep this axial skeletal system healthy?
So how do we keep this precious axial skeleton healthy? The best thing to do is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here are some things you can do to keep your bones strong and healthy:
- Exercise: Cardio exercises like walking and running and strength training like lifting weights both help strengthen your bones. Weight-bearing exercises in particular are very good for bone density.
- Get enough sleep: Get at least seven hours of sleep a night. That's when your bones have time to recover and repair.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Excess body weight can put unnecessary pressure on bones, especially the spine.
- Get enough calcium and vitamin D: Include milk, yogurt, cheese, green vegetables (spinach, kale), small fish (like sprats with their shells), and almonds in your diet. These are very important for strengthening bones. It is also good to get vitamin D from the morning sun.
- Don't smoke: Smoking reduces the blood supply to the bones. Good blood supply is essential for healthy bones. Smoking also reduces bone density.
- Limit alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is also harmful to bone health.
- Get regular medical checkups: If you are over 65, especially if you are a woman, ask your doctor about getting a bone density test after menopause. This can help detect conditions like osteoporosis early.
Finally, remember this.
So, the axial skeleton that we talked about today is a very important part of our body, consisting of 80 bones in the central core. These bones, which are located in the head, neck, back, and chest, protect and cushion our brain, spinal cord, and internal organs.
Since various diseases can affect this skeletal system, it is very important to keep it healthy and strong. Remember, by following a healthy lifestyle, you can minimize the damage caused by diseases and accidents. If you take good care of yourself, your bones will take good care of you too! So try to stay healthy with a balanced diet, adequate exercise, and good rest.
` Axial Skeleton, Bones, Skull, Spine, Rib Cage, Bone Health, Vertebrae
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