Questions: My Bones Hold Me Up

Question 1

How many bones does a child's body have?

• A. About 20
• B. About 100
• C. About 270 — even more than an adult
• D. About 1,000

Answer: (C)

Children are born with about 270 bones, which is actually more than adults have (about 206). As you grow, some of the smaller bones fuse together to form bigger, stronger bones. That is why children end up with fewer bones than they started with — some of them join together.

Question 2

Bones are dead, dry, and cannot heal if they break.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: False

Bones are very much alive. They have blood flowing through them, living cells that constantly rebuild and repair them, and nerves that can feel pain. If a bone breaks, your body can heal it — a doctor helps set the bone in the right position (sometimes with a cast), and your body grows new bone material to fill in the break over several weeks.

Question 3

Name two jobs that your skeleton does for your body.

Model answer: The skeleton gives your body its shape and holds you upright. It protects important organs — the skull protects your brain, the ribs protect your heart and lungs. It also works with muscles to help you move.

The skeleton has three main functions: support (holding your body up and giving it shape), protection (shielding vital organs inside hard bone), and movement (providing places for muscles to attach and pull). Without a skeleton, your body would have no structure — it would be like a tent without poles.