For some particular reason that I don’t truly understand, I’ve been thinking about bones lately. Maybe it’s because one of my friends is obsessed with bio-anthropology (shout out to Claire!), but no matter what the cause, I am here, thinking about the human skeleton. Also, if there is going to be a skeleton war, we might as well learn about some bones! So here are my top seven favorite bones (in no particular order) and some nice facts about them!
1. Femur
A.k.a. one of the most beloved bones in the skeleton. To place it on your body, it is your thigh bone and it extends down to your knee. The long part that extends down to your knee is called the femoral shaft, and that is divided into three parts: the distal, the middle, and the proximal. This bone is classically shaped, and any cartoon dog would love to chew it!
2. Hyoid
This is actually my roommate’s favorite bone! Francesca particularly loves this bone because it is the only bone that is not connected to any other bones. Its main function is to anchor the tongue, and the hyoid also provides protection for larynx, pharynx, and epiglottis. What a funky, fresh bone!
3. Inferior Nasal Concha
I think I may have chose this bone mostly because of its lovely name. This bone is one of the conchae of the nose -- nasal conchae are long, narrow bones that extend into the nasal cavity. Honestly, I have no idea if it has any functions other than to hold up the nose, but that’s very important, right?
4. Trapezoid
So, I didn’t know that there was a bone named trapezoid! I was so excited when I saw it in the structure of the hand. This bone is dedicated for all the math majors out there (here’s looking at you, Matthew). The trapezoid bone is one of the carpal bones (bones that make up the wrist) and it is four sided. Unsurprisingly, this bone resembles a trapezoid shape.
5. 2nd Cervical Vertebra
There are seven cervical vertebrae in the vertebrae and this one is super important. Why is it so important? Well, the 2nd cervical vertebra is in charge of allowing the head to rotate. Wow! Also, a fun fact is that its nickname is “axis vertebra.” What a cool bone!
6. Scapula
The scapula bone is commonly referred to the shoulder blade, and because I love a good shoulder blade, I decided to put it on my list. This bone houses the muscles that make it possible for your neck to move.
7. Sternum
The sternum is the holds up the thoracic structure (a structure that holds a lot of important organs) and is the crux of the rib cage. One may even go as far as to say that this bone is one of the stars of the human skeleton show! Good work, sternum!
Well, hopefully, you have learned some more about bones and their functions. Although I only touched upon seven of them, there are 199 other ones to consider! Take some time and take a gander at them. Comment your favorite bone!
