The Life Cycle of Bones
Our bones are never at rest. They’re self-regulating and practically indestructible, made of minerals from the earth that endure for centuries after we die. Yet they’re alive with constant activity, responsible for creating blood cells that transport oxygen and fight disease, carrying on these vital functions while providing structure and support as we’re running from place to place in the course of an ordinary day.
As an infant develops in-vitro, cartilage slowly hardens into bone forming the axial and appendicular structures. At birth, we have close to 300 separate bones that continue to solidify into the 206 bones in the adult body.
Growth hormones from the pituitary gland deep inside the brain prompt the long bones of the arms and legs to grow and lengthen, reaching peak size and mass at around age 30. A healthy diet and moderate exercise help to strengthen bone tissue as well as the ligaments, tendons, and muscles that connect to provide movement.
After a hopefully long and healthy span of years, the skeletal system, like every part of the human body, begins to slow and weaken. Mineral loss from the bones decreases their weight and density and could result in fractures or other age-related disorders. A shrinking of the disks between the vertebrae causes the spinal column to shorten, and a loss of cartilage in the knee and hip joints starts to affect strength and mobility.
Types of Bone
The outermost layer of bone is known as compact bone and contains varying amounts of calcium and phosphorus. This type of bone is hard and solid, enabling the body to be flexible, strong, and agile. The thyroid gland beneath the larynx effects the growth of the skeletal system and monitors levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body. The thyroid can release enzymes that influence whether these minerals are stored in bone tissue or released into the bloodstream.
Cancellous, or spongy bone, is inside the knobby ends of the long bones of the arms and legs, and in the center of the vertebra and pelvis.
Bone marrow generates billions of new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets each day
Spongy bone is soft and porous, containing the red bone marrow where blood cell production takes place in the process of hematopoiesis. Stem cells that form in the red marrow can grow into either red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Billions of new blood cells are manufactured each day within healthy bone marrow.
Yellow bone marrow consists mostly of fatty tissue that can rapidly be converted to red marrow to produce blood cells. It’s found in the diaphysis, the straight mid-section of the long bones. As we age, red marrow is converted into yellow until the two types exist in equal parts in the adult body.
Shapes of Bones
Long Bones: Characterized by a mid-length, the diaphysis, with knobby ends containing spongy bone and bone marrow. Arms and legs, as well as fingers and toes are the long bones
Flat Bones: These are essentially layers of hard bone with a mid-layer of spongy bone. Usually thin and concave, as in the bones of the skull
Sesamoid Bones: The knee caps are sesamoid bones located within ligament structures
Short Bones: Found in the wrists and ankles, short bones are square shaped and fit together in a way that supports both the weight of the body and the flexibility of the hands and feet
Irregular Bones: A thin layer of compact bone surrounds an interior of spongy bone. The vertebrae of the spinal column are irregular bones
Bones Break!
Bone breaks can occur at every age. We usually associate broken bones with a fall or a sudden accident, but injuries to bone tissue can be caused by strain and repetitive stress as well. Weight-bearing activities like running, weightlifting, and yoga are beneficial for strengthening the skeletal system, but overexertion could damage bone tissue as well as muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
The instant a bone breaks the healing process starts. Blood vessels in the periosteum are severed causing blood at the outer layer of compact bone to seep into the fracture site. As the blood congeals into a hematoma, a soft callous starts to form. During the next three weeks, the callous becomes a cartilage “bridge” that slowly hardens into a bone callous, a process that lasts for weeks or months depending on the type of break and the age of the patient.
In the case of a serious accident, physicians can surgically reposition bones using pins and rods. Traction might be necessary during the healing process; putting weight on different parts of the affected bone to prevent the muscles from pulling the bones out of alignment. And the last phase of recovery from a bone break is physical therapy, to carefully put pressure on the new bone tissue and strengthen the surrounding muscles that have been relaxing during the healing process.