Bone is a hard, dense connective tissue that forms most of the adult skeleton, the support structure of the body. In the areas of the skeleton where bones move, cartilage, a semi-rigid form of connective tissue, provides flexibility and smooth surfaces for movement.
The skeletal system is the body system composed of bones and cartilage and performs the following critical functions for the human body:
supports the body
facilitates movement
protects internal organs
produces blood cells
stores and releases minerals and fat
Just as the steel beams of a building provide a scaffold to support its weight, the bones and cartilage of your skeletal system compose the scaffold that supports the rest of your body. Without the skeletal system, you would be a limp mass of organs, muscle, and skin.
Bones also facilitate movement by serving as points of attachment for your muscles. While some bones only serve as a support for the muscles, others also transmit the forces produced when your muscles contract. From a mechanical point of view, bones act as levers and joints (cartilage) serve as fulcrums. Unless a muscle spans a joint and contracts, a bone is not going to move.
Check out these 13 Tips For Studying Anatomy More Effectively shared by EasyAnatomy.