In the bones
The skeleton protects the delicate internal structures. For example, the skull protects the brain, rib cage protects the heart and lungs, the vertebral column protects the spinal cord and the pelvis protects the abdominal and reproductive organs.
Storage
Our bones, they serve as storage areas for mineral salts, such as calcium and magnesium phosphate, both of which are essential for growth and good health. The bone owes the structure hardness and compression strength to these mineral deposits which are placed inside the bone.
At first minerals were thought of as toxic, such minerals as nickel, zinc, copper, and selenium were condemned, These minerals are actually needed by the body to act as co-enzymes, helping us and making us work various body functions.
Bones also assist with blood cell production, the marrow of certain bones constantly produces red and white cells.
Exercising the bones
Bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and fascia are illustrations of connective tissue.
Exercise generates mechanical forces that cause distortion of precise regions of the skeleton. These forces, fashioned by muscular actions on the tendinous attachment into bone, can be bending, compressive, or torsional in nature. In reaction to mechanical loading, osteoblasts journey to the bone surface and initiate remodelling. Osteoblasts fabricate and discharge proteins, chiefly collagen molecules that are placed in the spaces between bone cells to increase strength. These proteins form the bone matrix and in due course become mineralised as calcium phosphate crystals. New bone formation occurs mainly on the outer surface of the bone (i.e., periosteum), augmenting diameter and strength. Muscle strength and hypertrophy gains intensify the force exercised on the bones.
