Wednesday, May 30, 2012

How Do Our Bones Connect With One Another

Have you ever seen a full human skeleton either in photos or in a display? Do you notice how there is a structure even if your bones are actually just small pieces? For your body to have a structure, your bones need to be connected to each other. If not, you would be just like sack of metal rods that has no shape and structure.
Your bones are connected to each other by means of so-called joints. They are tasked to provide support to your bones and to allow you to move about. The joints make your bones movable to allow you to reach things, walk and bend. But there are also joints that simply function to protect your internal organs like in the case of your skull that protects your brain.
There are different classifications of joints depending on the type of bone they connect as well as on the function that they serve. For one, you have the immovable fibrous joints. These are the joints that pertain to the bones in your skull and jaw. They are attached to fibrous tissues. By their name, these are joints that are not really allowed to move because the bones that they connect are meant only for protection and support.
The bones in your spine, on the other hand, are connected through the so-termed cartilaginous joints. Contrary to the immovable fibrous joints, cartilaginous joints are partially movable. It means that they are flexible enough for bending and other types of partial movements. Instead of fibrous tissues, these joints are joined together by cartilages.
Finally, you have synovial joints. These are the connectors for your bones in your hips, shoulders and elbows. As your synovial joints are considered freely movable, they may also be found in your knees, ankles and wrists. Synovial joints allow for more movements that the cartilaginous joints. This is why you may notice that you can move your ankles and wrists in a rotating manner unlike the bones in your arms.
Your bones are also connected to your muscles through tendons. This is why your muscles can move along with your bones, therefore enabling them to aid in the way you perform your tasks.
It is suggested that you understand fully all the types of joints that connect your bones together. This would help you in knowing how prone you are to injuries related to broken bones and misaligned joints. If possible, consult with your doctor or osteopath who can let you go through different types of exams to check for the steadiness of your bones and joints.

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