Final answer:
Bone, as part of the skeletal system, provides structure, protection, and support for the body, and is involved in mineral storage and blood cell production. Cartilage offers flexibility and cushioning at joints. The skeletal system also includes joints, which connect bones, and bone repair processes that heal fractures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Definition and Functions of Skeletal System Components
Bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the vertebrate skeletal system. It supports and protects various organs of the body, produces red and white blood cells, stores minerals, and provides structure and mobility. Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals. It is not as hard and rigid as bone but is stiffer and less flexible than muscle.
The skeletal system has several critical functions including:
- Providing support to the body
- Facilitating movement through its connection with the muscular system
- Protecting internal organs
- Storing and releasing fats and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus
- Producing blood cells (hematopoiesis) in the bone marrow
The adult human skeletal system consists of 206 bones that are categorized by shape, each serving a distinct function. These categories are long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid bones. Regional terms are used to describe precise areas of the body, improving medical communication and documentation accuracy.
Bone repair is a natural process following a fracture, involving the production of new bone cells called osteoblasts through the periosteum. Joints are the connections between bones, and they are classified structurally as fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial, each allowing for different types of movements.