Reading and Comprehension

1. Bones
Bones support the human body.
They are the structure on which the
skin hangs. Without bones the body
would collapse. A person could not
walk or run. Bones provide both
support and protection for parts of
the body.

2. In the front of the body the bony
rib cage covers the chest.
Underneath are the heart and lungs.
The ribs are bones which protect
the heart, lungs and stomach in
case of injury.
The skull protects the brain. The
bones in the back (or spine) protect
the nerves of the spinal column.

3. The bones store minerals needed by other
parts of the body. When the minerals are
needed, they will be released into the blood.
They also form new red and white blood cells
each day. New bone is still made until a
person reaches the age of thirty-five. When a
person gets much older, the bones start to
weaken. The minerals begin to disappear
from the bones.

4. Besides storing minerals and forming blood
cells, the bones work with muscles and joints.
They allow movement in the body. The place
where two bones come together is called a
joint. The knee joint is the biggest and
strongest joint in the body. Ligaments link
bones together at the joints. They are very
strong and can stretch. Muscles are attached
to bones by tendons. The muscles and
tendons together allow the bones move.

5. The whole bone structure of the body is
called the skeleton. The skull protects the
brain, eyes, face, jaw and ears. Vertebrae
make up the column of bones running
down the back. Between each vertebra is
a small cushion called a disk. The
vertebrae are hollow. Nerves run down
through the hollow parts to the whole
body.

6. Knees, hands, feet and legs all have different
kinds of bones. Some of these bones can move
freely. Some are bound tightly together. Arm
bones are connected at the top to the collarbone
and shoulder bone. They are connected at the
bottom to the hand. Leg bones are attached to the
spine at the top by the group of bones called the
pelvis. The upper part of the leg is the thigh bone.
It forms part of the knee. The lower part of the leg
is made up of two bones. They are attached to the
foot at the bottom.

7. Bones are actually living cells. The
bones grow and change over time. A
person is born with three hundred bones.
Some of these bones can join together. By
the time a person becomes an adult, he
will have only about two hundred and six
bones.

8. In summary, bones are a necessary part of
the body. They provide protection and
support for the vital organs, like the heart,
brain and lungs. The bones are strong and can
handle heavy weights. They allow a person to
walk. They work with muscles to help the
body move and stretch. The 206 bones of the
body include the ribs, skull, spine, vertebrae,
thigh bone, and many more.