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Exploring the Skeletal System

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Exploring the Skeletal System

At a surf lifesaving club, Georgia, Wiremu and Ari are preparing a safety display about how the skeleton supports movement and protects the body. Use the evidence on this page to solve their questions. Answer in your own words where asked.

Structure and function

1.Georgia says the skeleton is just a frame that holds the body upright. Choose the three other important functions of the skeletal system.

It protects organs, helps the body move with muscles, and makes blood cells.
It digests food, pumps blood, and carries oxygen.
It controls thoughts, absorbs nutrients, and makes hormones.
It filters waste, exchanges gases, and produces saliva.

2.Wiremu is checking the safety display. Match each bone to the body region it belongs to.

Skull
Ribs
Humerus
Femur
Tibia

Chest
Thigh
Upper arm
Head
Lower leg

3.Which bone structure forms a protective case around the brain?

4.The rib cage helps protect the heart and lungs. True or false? Give one reason for your choice.

TrueFalse

Bone investigation

5.Complete the statement about a long bone: its strong outer layer is bone.

6.Complete the statement about a long bone: its lighter, porous interior is bone.

7.Ari is explaining why bones are living tissue. Name the type of marrow where many blood cells are made, and name one kind of blood cell it produces.

8.A growing person has more separate bones than most adults. Explain what happens to some bones as a person grows, and give the usual number of bones in an adult skeleton.

9.Georgia’s club display says calcium and vitamin D both matter for bone health. Explain one role of calcium and one role of vitamin D.

Apply your knowledge

10.When Wiremu bends his elbow to lift a rescue float, the bones do not bend like soft material. Explain how a joint and muscles allow the arm to move.

11.A long bone is cracked after a fall, but the skin is unbroken. What is this injury called, and name one way a health professional may help the bone heal.

12.The club wants a labelled long-bone sketch for its display. Draw a long bone and label the shaft, an end, compact bone and marrow. Add one sentence explaining what marrow does.