Much of the skeleton is made up of non-living material (including the minerals calcium and phosphorus), but nevertheless bones contain living tissue which is constantly remodelling, replacing old tissue with new tissue. They store the minerals calcium and phosphorus, and also contain bone marrow, where new blood cells are made. They hold the body upright, and also protect organs like the heart and the liver. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body - it joins the calf muscle to the heel bone.īones give people shape. They appear as the long thin ends of the muscles. Tendons - these are made of strong fibrous connective tissue and they connect muscles to bone.

Muscles - there are around 600 muscles in the human body.For example, the knee joint has 4 ligaments that help to stabilise it - the 2 collateral ligaments on the inner and outer sides of the knee and the 2 cruciate ligaments inside the knee joint Ligaments - tough bands of tissue that join bones to other bones to strengthen joints.Cartilage - provides cushioning inside joints (such as in the knee joint), or connects one bone to another (as in cartilaginous joints).Joints - an area where 2 or more bones come together.There are 5 main shapes of bones: long (such as the upper arm), short (such as the hand), flat (such as the ribs), irregular (such as the vertebrae) and sesamoid (such as the kneecap). The adult human skeleton is made up of 206 bones. Skeleton - this is the framework of the body.Injuries and various illnesses can damage bones, muscles and joints. The parts of the musculoskeletal system grow and change throughout life.

This system gives your body its structure and support and lets you move around.

Related information on Australian websitesīones, muscles and joints make up the musculoskeletal system, along with cartilage, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue.

Conditions and injuries affecting the bones.

Are ribs flat bones