CHAPTER I 



THE FRAMEWORK OF THE BODY 



The Bones Their Form and Composition The Properties of Bone 

 Histology The Skeleton The Joints The Spinal Column- 

 Cartilage The Growth of Bone The Repair of Bone Changes 

 in the Skeleton Erect Posture 



1. The Bones. The framework which, sustains the human 

 body is composed of the bones. The superstructure consists 

 of the various organs on which the processes of life depend. 

 These organs are soft and delicately forme* I, and, if unprotected, 

 would, in most cases, rapidly be destroyed when subjected to 

 violence, however slight. The bones, having great strength 

 and power of resistance, afford the protection required. 



2. The more delicate the organ, the more completely does 

 Nature shield it. For example: the brain, which is soft in 

 structure, is enclosed on all sides by a spherical box of bone ; 

 the eye, though it must be near the surface of the body, to 

 command an extensive view, is sheltered from injury within 

 a deep recess of bone ; the lungs, requiring freedom of motion 

 as well as protection, are surrounded by a large "chest" of 

 bone and muscle. The bones serve other useful purposes. They 

 give permanence of form to the body, by holding the softer 

 parts in their proper places. They assist in movement, by 

 affording points of attachment to those organs which have 

 power of motion the muscles. For all movements of the 

 body as a whole, and for nearly all movements of parts of the 

 body, save those controlling the vital processes, the bones are 

 levers. 



3. The Form and Composition of the Bones. The shape and 

 size of the bones vary greatly in different parts of the body, 

 but generally they are arranged in pairs, one for each side of 



1. The framework of the body? The superstructure ? 2. Use of bones? 



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