Facts about the Skeletal System
- 07
Haversian canals running through compact bone contain blood vessels and nerves that supply nutrients to osteocytes located within lacunae throughout the skeletal system.
- 06
Osteoporosis affects approximately 10 million Americans, with 1 in 3 women over age 70 experiencing bone fractures due to decreased skeletal density and mineral loss.
- 05
Calcium and phosphorus comprise approximately 99 percent of the skeletal system's mineral content, with these two elements working together to provide rigidity and strength to bone structure.
- 04
Compact bone tissue can regenerate and completely remodel itself within approximately 10 years through the skeletal system's continuous process of osteoclast and osteoblast activity.
- 03
The femur can support approximately 1,600 pounds of force per square inch, making it nearly as strong as reinforced concrete despite weighing far less.
- 02
Bone marrow produces approximately 200 billion red blood cells daily within the skeletal system's hollow cavities.
- 01
Adults possess 206 bones in their skeletal system, while newborns have approximately 270 bones composed largely of cartilage that gradually ossify.