MyLeoNes™

How bones and joints support the body — Health, 7–10 years

Bones give the body shape and protect delicate organs. Joints connect bones so that muscles can move the body in different ways.

A body with a frame

Your skeleton is a living framework inside you. Bones support your weight and protect places such as the brain, heart and lungs. Joints are meeting points where bones can move, like the hinge of an elbow or knee.

Why a skeleton is needed

Without a firm frame, a body could not hold its shape or protect its most delicate parts. But a solid statue cannot move. Bones and joints solve both problems: the skeleton is strong in some places and flexible at the connections.

Bending an arm

First, the upper-arm bone stays fairly still while the elbow joint bends. Then the biceps muscle shortens and pulls the forearm upwards. The muscle does not push the bone; it pulls it, while another muscle helps straighten the arm again.

Bones are not dead sticks

A bone looks hard and still, so it is reasonable to imagine it as an unchanging stick. In fact, bone is living tissue with blood vessels, and children’s bones can grow and repair small damage. That is why food, movement and protection matter for bones.

Protecting a moving body

A helmet, knee pads or a seat belt can reduce the force reaching bones and joints during a fall or crash. They cannot make every accident harmless, so using them does not mean taking bigger risks. Their job is to add protection to sensible behaviour.

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