Wednesday, March 18, 2015
What are human bones made of
These cells are also always rebuilding the bony tissue to keep it strong.
Rebuilding happens less as people grow older. So a broken bone will often heal much more quickly in a child than in an adult.
Bones store substances called minerals, which your body uses. Calcium is a mineral. It helps to make the bones hard.
Bones have a strong covering, called periosteum.
Inside, there is a hard layer of compact bone.
A long bone, such as the thigh bone, has spongy tissue at its ends, called cancellous bone, and soft marrow in its hollow center.
![]() |
Some parts of your skeleton, such as your arms and legs, have only a few long bones. Other parts, such as your hands and feet, have many small bones. |
How are bones held together?
Your bones are held together by strong, flexible straps called ligaments.The ends of the bones are covered with a smooth, rubbery substance called cartilage. This is the same kind of substance that forms the tip of your nose.
Cartilage works like a cushion so that the bones don’t grind against each other. Cartilage is covered in a liquid called synovial fluid.
This keeps the bones moving smoothly, like oil in the parts of a machine.