Need information on the bones? Check out: Chest Bones and Bones of the cranium
The thorax region of the human body is very important for survival and life. The chest houses your lungs, heart, and vital arteries that carry blood to the rest of your body. The body has developed a series of defenses to protect one of the most significant regions in the body. At the top of the list of the bodies defenses are the bones. In the thorax or chest region, the chest bones can be found.
Many people know what the skeletal system bones look like. However, not many people know the structure of these bones. The skeletal bones are created primarily from calcium phosphate that creates connective tissue. The bones are formed from calcium phosphate and a type of dense connective tissue. Every bone in the body has a slightly different shape and size, which is controlled by the genetic code. The bones play essential roles in movement, support, strength, protection, and shape.
Although the bones play essential roles in protection, another vital function of the bones are creation of white and red blood cells. A soft region, known as the bone marrow, is located at the center of many skeletal bones. Red blood cells and white blood cells are produced in this region. The red blood cells are very important because they transport O2, also known as oxygen, to all regions of the body. White blood cells are very important in that they defend the body against invaders and pathogens.
In the chest, there are 25 bones. Of all the bones in the chest, twenty four of these bones are known as the ribs. The body contains two sets of ribs on each side of the chest. The other bone of the chest is the sternum. These twenty five thorax bones are very significant in protecting the organs of the respiratory and circulatory system. The ribs are curved skeletal bones that form a structure known as the rib cage around the lungs and heart. The rib skeletal bones also allow breathing by contracting and expanding the chest. While the ribs form a cage around the vital organs, the sternum is found in the middle of chest.
Humans would find it very difficult to survive without the protection of the thorax bones. It would be very easy to damage organs such as the heart or lungs. Thus through evolution, the body has developed these defense mechanisms to protect the vital organs. The chest bones account for a total of 25 bones out of the 206 bones in the human skeleton.
If you are interested in the chest bones, you may also be interested in Bones of the cranium, head on over to LearnBones.com. A thorough understanding of Bones of the cranium is essential for someone’s knowledge of anatomy. Learn Bones is the premier resource on the bones of the human skeleton. There you will find detailed descriptions, diagrams, and images.
Related posts: