How Do Bones Grow and Protect Us?

Bones are some of the most amazing parts of our bodies—they’re alive, adaptable, and essential for everything we do. Let’s explore what they do, how they grow, and why they’re so important to human evolution.

Episode Transcript: How Do Bones Grow and Protect Us?

Hey there, curious minds, welcome to another episode of I Wonder, the show where we explore the questions you've been wondering about. Today's question comes from Lillian, from Rochester, New York, and she asked why do we have bones? What a solid question Lillian.

Bones are some of the most amazing parts of our bodies. They're alive, adaptable and essential for everything we do. Let's explore what they do, how they grow and why they're so important to human evolution.

How do bones grow and change? Bones begin developing before you're even born and continue to grow throughout childhood and into your 20s. Most of your growth happens at areas called growth plates, located near the ends of long bones. These plates are made of cartilage which slowly turns into a bone as you grow taller and stronger.

By the time you're in your late teens or early 20s, these growth plates close and your bones stop growing in length. But if you've ever felt aches in your arms or legs, especially at night, you might have been experiencing something called growing pains. Surprisingly, these aren't caused by your bones growing too fast. They're likely related to how your muscles and ligaments stretch and adjust as your body changes. During childhood and adolescence, bones grow rapidly, especially in the legs, and this can put extra strain on the surrounding tissues. Doctors think that growing pains may be be linked to increased activity during the day, like running, jumping or playing sports All that movement can make your muscles and ligaments a little sore as they keep up with your growing skeleton. A little as they keep up with your growing skeleton, ew gross. The good news Growing pains are harmless and usually go away on their own as you get older. Even after your bones stop growing in size, they're still very much alive.

cells called osteoblasts build new bone, while osteoclasts break down old bone. This process keeps your skeleton strong and helps repair damage like fractures. Amazingly, your skeleton replaces itself about every 10 years, so the bones you have now aren't the same ones you had a decade ago Bones like bodyguards for your vital organs. Your skull acts like a helmet to protect your brain, while your rib cage shields your heart and lungs. Ouch, even smaller bones like the vertebrae in your spine work together to protect your spinal cord, which is the communication superhighway between your brain and the rest of your body. Amazing Bones also support soft tissues like your face muscles. Without bones like your jaw or cheekbones, your face wouldn't hold its shape and without the long bones in your legs, standing upright and walking would be impossible. Ha ha ha, very funny.

Where are all these bones?

Well, let's talk numbers. Your body has 206 bones Whoa. But can you guess where in the body most of these bones are? In the body, most of these bones are located in your hands and feet. Each hand has 27 bones and each foot has 26, making them some of the most intricate and flexible parts of your skeleton. These small bones work together to let you write, throw, climb and dance, all with amazing precision. The smallest bone in your body is the stapes located in your middle ear. Shaped like a tiny stirrup, "why stapes is part of a trio of bones called the ossicles, along with the malleus hammer and the incus anvil, the stapes transmit sound from your eardrum to your inner ear, making hearing possible. On the other end of the scale, the femur or the thigh bone is the largest and strongest bone in your body. It supports your upper body weight and is crucial for movement like running and walking. iwonderpodcast.

Inside many of your bones is bone marrow, a spongy material that produces millions of blood cells every day. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body, while white blood cells help fight off infections. Without bone marrow, your body wouldn't have the blood it needs to survive. Nope, bones also act as storage centers for minerals like calcium and phosphorus. These minerals are essential for keeping your muscles, nerves and heart working properly. When your body needs more, it withdraws these minerals from your bones. When there's extra to spare, it deposits them right back. It's kind of like your body's personal savings account.

Have bones evolved over time? Well, bones haven't changed much in number over the last thousands of years, but they've evolved significantly over millions of years. Early humans, for example, had thicker, denser bones to help them survive harsh climates and climb trees. As humans began walking upright, our skeletons adapted the pelvis became shorter and wider for balance and the spine developed a curve to absorb the impact of walking and running. To absorb the impact of walking and running. In more recent history, as humans shifted from hunting to farming, bones became lighter. Farming required less physical strength, and changes in diet may have also contributed to less dense skeletons. These adaptations show how closely our bones are tied to the way we live and survive.

Here are a few amazing bone facts to wrap your head around. Pound for pound, bone is stronger than steel. It can handle more pressure without breaking. Your skull is made up of 22 bones that fuse together over time, protecting your brain while giving your head its shape. And here's another one Babies' skulls have soft spots called fontanelles that allow their heads to flex during birth and grow as their brains expand.

Taking care of your bones. Strong bones start with good habits. Eating calcium rich foods like dairy products, leafy greens and almonds gives your bones the building blocks they need. Vitamin D, which you get from sunlight and certain foods, helps your body absorb calcium. Exercise, especially activities like running, jumping or dancing, puts healthy stress on your bones, making them stronger and denser over time.

So, to answer Lillian's question, why do we have bones? Bones give us shape, protect our organs, help us move, produce blood cells and store essential minerals. They're alive, adaptable and constantly working to keep us healthy and strong. From the tiniest bone in your ear to the strongest one in your thigh, your skeleton is an incredible piece of engineering that lets us live, play and thrive.

Thanks again to Lillian for such a fantastic question and remember, if you have a question you're curious about, submit it on our website, iwonderpodcast.com, and we might just feature it in our next episode of I wonder. Until next time, stay curious and keep wondering.