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All About Bone Functions: Type, Structure, Tissue, and Cells

Dr. Sreelekha Daruvuri

5 Min Read

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Bones are the important structural elements of the human body, forming the framework that provides support, protection, and mobility. Composed generally of minerals, collagen, and residing bone cells, they serve as the body’s robust scaffold. Bones are available in diverse sizes and styles, ranging from the long, weight-bearing bones like the femur and tibia to the difficult and delicate bones within the ear. Their main capabilities encompass anchoring muscle tissues, protecting vital organs, generating blood cells inside the marrow, and storing minerals like calcium and phosphorus. In this article, we will look into detail about bone functions, bone types, structure, tissue and cells. Get your bone density test done now.

Bones give structure and provide support to our bodies. In fact, why we humans are on top of the food chain, among many other things such as the brain, is due to the network of bones that shapes our external physique. The way the bones shape our external physique allows us to perform sophisticated functions like operating computers and weapons, which makes mankind extremely powerful. Further, bones protect our vital organs. For example, our skull protects our brains. The rib cage protects our heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and so on. Bones also act as storage places for stem cells and calcium. They also produce blood cells such as RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. There’s just so much that our bones do. Let’s look at some of them in detail.

What Is The Function Of Bones?

The following are some functions of bones:

1) Bones provide support to our bodies

Bones provide a support structure to our bodies. For example, the lower limbs support our upper body. Similarly, the spine supports our back and helps us stand tall. Without bones, we’d have no shape. Therefore, when we have bone deformities, we can end up with the wrong posture. Poor posture causes wear and tear of your ligaments, joints, and muscles, causing injuries. Read more on different types of posture.

2) Bones help us in our movements

Bones play an important role in our movements. Your muscles are attached to the bones via tendons. When your muscles contract, your bones act as a lever and your joints as a pivot point. This enables you to perform a wide range of activities such as lifting weights, cooking food, throwing an object, operating a computer, and so on.

3) Bones protect our internal organs

Bones protect our vital organs. For example, Our skull protects the brain and our ribs protect the heart, lungs, and liver.

4) Blood cell regulation and maintenance

Our bone marrow synthesises blood components such as

– The RBC

– WBC and

– Platelets

This process is called hematopoiesis.

5) Bones act as a place of storage

Bones are a storage place for important minerals in your body, such as calcium and phosphorus. These minerals are needed for various functions in our body, such as building strong bones and teeth, muscle contraction, regulating heartbeat, and so on. Bones are also a storage place for some fat tissue in yellow marrow within the bones. When we lack energy, these fat cells can be broken down to provide us with energy.

What Are The 5 Types Of Bones?

There are basically five main types of bones. They are:

bone functions MFine - types of bones

1) Long bones

It includes

– The femur (thigh bones)

– Tibia (shin bone)

– Fibula (calf bone on the lateral side of the tibia)

– Humerus (the long bone in the arm that runs from shoulder to elbow)

– Radius (Long bone in the lower arm)

– Ulna (Long bone in the lower arm on the lateral side of the radius)

– Metacarpals (Bones in your hands)

– Metatarsals (bones in your feet)

– Phalanges (finger bones)

Due to its compactness, the function of long bones is to provide support to your body and facilitate movements.

2) Short bones

These bones are somewhat cubical in shape and are less compact. They are found in

– Tarsals (bones in the ankles)

– Carpals (Bones in your wrist)

The function of these bones is to provide stability to the wrist and ankles and also to facilitate some movements.

3) Flat bones

These bones are flat and have a curved and broad surface. It includes

– Ribs

– Shoulder blades

– Breast bones and

– Skull

The function of these bones is often to protect your vital internal organs such as your brain, heart, or lungs.

4) Irregular bones

These bones are irregularly shaped. Examples are

– Vertebrae or the spinal cord bones

– Pelvic bones and

– The bones in your face

The function of these bones, like the flat bones, is to protect various parts of your body, such as the spinal cord.

5) Sesamoid bones

These bones are small and round in shape and embedded within the tendons. Examples include

– Patella (knee cap)

– Tibial sesamoid (small bone in the feet)

– Fibular sesamoid (small bone in the feet)

The function of these bones is to protect tendons from injuries.

Overall there are 206 bones in your body, including bones of the skull, spine, chest, arms, hands, pelvis, legs, and feet.

What Are The Types Of Bone Tissue?

Your bones are made up of the following four tissues. They are

1) Periosteum

It is the dense and tough outer layer that contains nerves and blood vessels.

2) Compact bone tissue

It is the dense and hard tissue layer that protects the inner tissues.

3) Spongy bone tissue

It is also called the cancellous tissue. It is porous in nature, like a honeycomb structure that allows bones to be light yet strong.

4) Bone marrow

It is the innermost and jellylike substance found in the inner cavity of the bone (filling up the interior of the bone) that produces blood and certain fat cells.

What Are The Different Types Of Bone Cells?

There are primarily four different types of bone cells. They are:

bone functions MFine - internal structure of a bone

1) Mesenchymal stem cells

These basically are stem cells. These cells have a unique ability to transform into any cell type in the body, from liver cells to heart cells, including osteoblast cells.

2) Osteoblasts

These basically are specialised mesenchymal stem cells. They work to deposit collagen and minerals to form strong bones. They basically make bones.

3) Osteocytes

These cells help maintain mature bone tissues. They also help in regulating the calcium and phosphate concentrations in the bone.

4) Osteoclasts

These are large bone cells that secrete a number of enzymes and chemicals and play an important role in releasing minerals and other molecules stored in bones. For example, these cells help release calcium from the bones to maintain homeostasis within the body. They also help in repairing the minor wear and tear that happens daily.

Conclusion

Your bones do much more than provide support to your body. They help facilitate movements, protect your internal organs, develop blood components and certain fat cells, regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in your body and, may also provide stem cells for internal organ repair. Are you looking to seek treatment for your bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons? Consult one of our orthopaedic doctors available online. At MFine, we provide affordable doctor consultations over chat or video calls. Using the MFine app, you can also book a lab test online, all from the comfort of your home. We also provide at-home sample collection. Using the MFine app, you could also order medicines online. Download the MFine app now!

Reference:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/anatomy-of-the-bone#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20functions%20of,and%20storage%20of%20blood%20cells.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-are-five-functions-bones
https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-health/bone-function
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320444
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/anatomy-and-physiology/bones-and-skeletal-tissues/functions-of-bones
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6429025/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515490/
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bones-muscles-joints.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12254-musculoskeletal-system-normal-structure–function