A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. [1] Bones protect the organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, help regulate acid-base homeostasis, provide structure and support for the body, and enable mobility and hearing. Bone is a rigid body tissue consisting of cells embedded in an abundant hard intercellular material.

Context Explanation

Bone tissue makes up the individual bones of the skeletons of vertebrates. Its two principle components are collagen and calcium phosphate. Bones form the scaffolding that hold the body together and allow it to move. They also help protect vital organs, store minerals, and provide an environment for creating bone marrow.

Insight Material

By... BONE is an interdisciplinary forum for the rapid publication of original articles and reviews on basic, translational, and clinical aspects of bone and mineral metabolism, including rare bone diseases. Bones are classified by their shape. They may be long (like the femur and forearm), short (like the wrist and ankle), flat (like the skull), or irregular (like the spine). Primarily, they are referred to as long or short.

Final Conclusion

There are 206 bones in the adult human skeleton. Bone is a living, rigid tissue of the human body that makes up the body's skeletal system. What is a bone? A bone is a somatic structure that is composed of calcified connective tissue. Ground substance and collagen fibers create a matrix that contains osteocytes. Bone tissue (osseous tissue) differs greatly from other tissues in the body.

Bone is hard and many of its functions depend on that characteristic hardness. Later discussions in this chapter will show that bone is also dynamic in that its shape adjusts to accommodate stresses. Explore the skeletal system with our interactive 3D anatomy models. Learn about the bones, joints, and skeletal anatomy of the human body.