CHAPTER II 

 THE BONY FRAMEWORK 



5. The Skeleton. Every animal must have some kind 

 of framework or support to give its body form or shape. 

 This framework in most animals is chiefly made up of bones. 



This bony support is called the skeleton, meaning a dried 

 body. It is to the body what the ribs are to a ship, or 

 what the frame is to a house. 



Every one is familiar with the picture of the human 

 skeleton. It shows us how the bones look when properly 

 prepared and held in place by wires. There are in all two 

 hundred and six separate bones in the adult skeleton. The 

 teeth are not bones, but are a part of the skin. 



The bones give firmness, strength, and protection to 

 the soft tissues and vital organs, and form, as it were, the 

 foundation upon which our bodies are built. 



26. How Bone is made up. Bone is a hard and strong 

 substance, made up of animal matter united with certain 

 mineral earths, chiefly compounds of lime. The earthy 

 part of bone makes up about two thirds of its weight, and 

 the animal portion the other third. The lime gives hard- 

 ness and firmness to the bones, while the animal substance 

 makes them elastic, tough, and flexible. 



In childhood the bones have more animal matter than 

 those of the adult ; hence a child's bones do not break 

 easily, and, when broken, soon knit together. 



16 



