The skeleton maintains the shape of the body, protects internal organs and makes locomotion possible. The vertebrae support the body and protect the spinal cord. They consist of: cervical vertebrae in...The skeleton maintains the shape of the body, protects internal organs and makes locomotion possible. The vertebrae support the body and protect the spinal cord. They consist of: cervical vertebrae in the neck, thoracic vertebrae in the chest region which articulate with the ribs, lumbar vertebrae in the loin region, sacral vertebrae fused to the pelvis to form the sacrum and tail or coccygeal vertebrae. It moves against or articulates with the pelvis at the hip joint.
This is called the growth plate or epiphyseal line and marks the place where increase in length of the bone occurred (see diagram 6.16). If you cut a long bone lengthways you will see it consists of a...This is called the growth plate or epiphyseal line and marks the place where increase in length of the bone occurred (see diagram 6.16). If you cut a long bone lengthways you will see it consists of a hollow cylinder (see diagram 6.13). The central cavity contains fatty yellow marrow, an important energy store for the body, and the ends are made from honeycomb-like bony material called spongy bone (see box below).
