Lesson- Keeping Your Shape

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Introduction (Paragraph 1)
Can you imagine what you would look like without bones?
You would be a soft, wobbly pile of skin, muscles, and
internal organs. Clearly, bones are needed to support and
shape the body. They have several other important roles as
well. You’ll learn what they are when you read this text.
Skeletal System (Paragraph 2)
Bones are the main organ of the skeletal system. The
skeletal system contains 206 bones. Other components of
the skeletal system include cartilage and ligaments.
 Cartilage is a tough, flexible connective tissue which covers the
ends of the bones where it meets. It is a cushion
between bones to prevent them from rubbing
against each other.
 Ligaments is a band of fibrous connective tissue.
Ligaments connect the bones of the skeleton and
hold them together.

Bones (Paragraph 3)
The human skeleton is a set of bones that support your body. It
protects vital organs such as your brain, lungs and heart by forming a
protective ‘cage’ around them. They also manufacture blood cells in
the bone marrow which is soft fatty tissue inside bones.
Bones are alive- they contain living cells and need a blood supply to
provide oxygen and other nutrients. If bones were not alive- how
would you grow taller? How would a broken arm and leg mend?
What’s in a bone? (Paragraph 4)
A bone composed of Periosteum which is a tough, fibrous membrane
that covers and protects the outer surface of the bone. They have a
strong and hard outer layer called compact bone. Beneath this
compact bone is a compact spongy layer. The inside of the bone is
hollow and contains a soft tissue called bone marrow
Bones contain minerals such as calcium and phosphorus
and also require these minerals to remain hard. This is
why your diet should contain milk, cheese and
other milk products for obtaining calcium.
Whilst phosphorus is found in leafy
vegetables, meat, fish and egg. Bones can
release and uptake calcium when the levels in
the blood are high or low to maintain normal levels of
the calcium concentration in blood.
Osteoporosis (Paragraph 5)
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become porous and
weak because they do not contain enough calcium. Maximizing the
calcium in your bones while you’re young will reduce the risk of
developing osteoporosis later in life. Regular exercise and a diet
containing calcium rich foods seems to prevent the onset of
osteoporosis.
Fractures (Paragraph 6)
People with osteoporosis have an increased risk of bone fractures. A
bone fracture is a crack or break in bone. Even if you have healthy
bones, you may fracture a bone if too much stress is placed on it.
This could happen in a car crash or while playing a sport. Wearing a
seatbelt when you ride in a motor vehicle and wearing safety gear
when you play sports may help prevent bone fractures.
Bone fractures heal naturally as new bone tissue forms at the site of
the fracture. However, the bone may have to be placed in a cast or
have rods or screws inserted into it to keep it correctly aligned until
it heals. The healing process usually takes several weeks or even
months.
Sprains (Paragraph 7)
Another type of skeletal system injury is a sprain. A sprain is a strain
or tear in a ligament that has been twisted or stretched too far.
Ankle sprains are a common type of sprain. Athletes often strain a
ligament in the knee called the ACL. Warming up adequately and
stretching before playing sports may reduce the risk of a sprain.
Ligament injuries can take a long time to heal. Rest, ice,
compression, and elevation of the sprained area may help the
healing process.

Answer the following questions

Literal Questions
1. What is the main organ of the skeletal system?
2. What are the components of the skeletal system?
3. Identify the minerals found in bones.
4. Where in the body are blood cells manufactured?
5. Name two types of injuries that can occur to the skeletal system
6. Define Osteoporosis
Structural questions
1. Is bone alive? Justify your answer.
2. Contrast ligaments and cartilage.
3. Explain how the injury of fractures differ from sprains ?
4. Why is calcium important in the diets of young children?
6. Explain the functions of the skeletal system
Inferential
1. Evaluate how and why a healthy skeletal system is important to athletes.