Skeletal System Web Quest: Uncovering the Secrets of Bones

Skeletal System Web Quest In class we have been talking about the skeletal system. Now you get to go on a virtual treasure hunt to dig up the dirt on bones! You will need to find the answers for the following questions. Click on the underlined web link to find each answer. On the movie classics television station, have you ever seen that funky 1958 Steve McQueen movie, The Blob? An oozing, jello-like space creature slithers around a small, rural town and, of course, eats everyone it encounters. Well, if you didn't have a skeletal system, you would look just like the blob...... For Questions 1 – 11 1. What is the Skeletal System? The skeletal system is the framework of bones and cartilage that supports and protects the body's organs and allows for movement 2. How does the Skeletal System help us? The skeletal system helps us by providing structural support for the body, protecting vital organs, producing blood cells, storing minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, and facilitating movement 3. Who has more bones a baby or an adult? Babies have more bones than adults. At birth, a baby has around 270 bones, but as they grow, some of these bones fuse together. An adult typically has 206 bones 4. Are bones alive? Yes, bones are alive. They contain blood vessels, nerves, and cells that enable them to grow, repair, and remodel throughout life 5. What is a bone made of? Bones are primarily made of a protein called collagen, which provides flexibility, and a mineral called calcium phosphate, which provides strength and hardness 6. How do bones break and heal? Bones can break due to trauma, such as a fall or impact. When a bone breaks, the body initiates a healing process involving the formation of a callus, which eventually remodels into new bone tissue 7. What is an X-ray? An X-ray is a medical imaging technique that uses electromagnetic radiation to create images of the inside of the body, particularly bones and other dense tissues 8. What’s up with joints? Joints are where two or more bones meet. They allow for movement and provide mechanical support to the body. Examples include the knee joint, elbow joint, and shoulder joint 9. Does each bone have a name? Yes, each bone in the human body has a specific name 10. How do I keep my bones healthy? To keep bones healthy, it's important to consume a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, engage in weight-bearing exercises, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and take precautions to prevent falls and injuries 11. Are my teeth counted as bones? Teeth are not counted as bones. They are made of different tissues and serve a different function in the body For Questions 12 -19 12. How many bones is the human body made up of? List at least 10 bones. Skull, Mandible (jawbone), Clavicle (collarbone), Scapula (shoulder blade), Sternum (breastbone), Humerus (upper arm bone), Radius (forearm bone on the thumb side), Ulna (forearm bone on the pinky side), Femur (thigh bone), Tibia (shinbone) 13. Name 3 types of joints and give an example of each. (Where are they located?) - Hinge joint: Found in the elbow and knee, allowing movement in only one direction, like a door hinge Ball-and-socket joint: Found in the shoulder and hip, allowing for a wide range of motion in multiple directions - Pivot joint: Found between the radius and ulna in the forearm, allowing for rotation 14. Define BONE MARROW and what its job is. Bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue found inside bones. Its job is to produce blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets 15. What is the job of the rib cage? How many pairs of ribs do humans have? The rib cage protects the organs of the chest, such as the heart and lungs. Humans typically have 12 pairs of ribs 16. What is the name of the smallest bone in your body and where is it located? The smallest bone in the body is the stapes bone, located in the middle ear 17. Give the name of the body part that holds bones together at the joint. Ligaments hold bones together at joints 18. List at least 3 things you can do to protect and strengthen your bones. - Engage in weight-bearing exercises Consume a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption 19. List the 3 major bones for the arms and the 3 major bones of the legs. Three major bones of the arms are the humerus, radius, and ulna. Three major bones of the legs are the femur, tibia, and fibula For questions 20-30 Research on the Internet. 20. What are the 5 functions of the skeletal system and give a description of each. - Support: Provides structural support for the body Protection: Protects vital organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs Movement: Provides attachment points for muscles, allowing for movement Blood cell production: Bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets - Mineral storage: Stores minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which are important for bone health and other bodily functions 21. What is the difference between ligaments and tendons? Ligaments connect bone to bone, while tendons connect muscle to bone. Ligaments provide stability to joints, while tendons facilitate movement by transmitting forces from muscles to bones 22. How do bones repair themselves? Bones repair themselves through a process called remodeling, where old or damaged bone tissue is replaced with new bone tissue. This process involves the activity of bone-forming cells called osteoblasts and bone-resorbing cells called osteoclasts 23. How does the number of bones and the amount of cartilage you change as you get older? As you get older, the number of bones remains the same, but some bones may fuse together, reducing the overall count. Cartilage may also decrease with age due to wear and tear 24. What does the axial skeleton consist of? The axial skeleton consists of the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage 25. What does the appendicular skeleton include? The appendicular skeleton includes the bones of the limbs (arms and legs) and the bones that attach them to the axial skeleton (shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle) 26. How are bones classified? Give an example of each. Hint 4 types. Bones are classified based on their shape and structure. Four types of bones are: - Long bones - Short bones - Flat bones - Irregular bones 27. Name two disorders of the skeletal system and give a brief description of each. Two disorders of the skeletal system are osteoporosis, characterized by weakened and brittle bones, and scoliosis, characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine 28. What is rickets? Rickets is a condition caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate, leading to soft and weak bones in children 29. Bone fractures in children are often different from fractures in adults. Explain why this may be so. Bone fractures in children may be different from fractures in adults due to the presence of growth plates in children, which can affect bone growth and healing 30. Why do people often become shorter when they get older? People often become shorter as they get older due to changes in the spine, including compression of the intervertebral discs and loss of bone density 31. How does the length of the femur compare to a person’s overall height? The length of the femur (thigh bone) is approximately one-quarter of a person's overall height