Our body is an anatomical marvel in which bones play a central role. They are the framework that provides stability and support for everything else. But what are bones actually made of? In this article, we will explain exactly how bones are constructed and why they offer so much stability.

What are bones in the structure of the body?

At first glance, our bones seem like rigid, immobile structures that merely form the framework of our body. In fact, they are living tissues that adapt and grow. Our bones support our body and provide protection for internal structures such as organs. Our bones also store important minerals such as calcium and phosphate. However, bones also play a particularly important role in the formation of blood cells.

What are our bones made of?

Bones are made up of several components that provide stability and flexibility. This balance of strength and adaptability ensures that bones provide stability for our bodies in everyday life. But what are bones made of? The most important components are:

• Collagen fibers: These protein threads are elastic, which is what gives bones their flexibility. Without collagen, our bones would be rigid material that would break immediately under any small load. The collagen that our bones are made of ensures that they remain flexible when subjected to loads.
• Minerals: Another important component of our bones is a composition of calcium and phosphate, which makes our bones hard and stable. These two minerals are stored in the framework of collagen fibers and form a resilient structure with it. If the bone consisted only of collagen, without calcium and phosphate, it would not be able to fulfill its stabilizing function.
• bone cells: Bones may seem like dead material to us, but they are actually made up of living cells. Osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes are the three main players in bone metabolism. They allow the bone to permanently renew itself and adapt.

The structure of a bone

The structure of bones is much more than just the components that bones are made of. anatomy pictures show that bones are made up of several layers that are necessary to perform their function. Let's take a closer look at the structures that bones are made of:

• periosteum: Our bones are surrounded by the so-called periosteum. This extremely delicate but particularly resilient layer contains many nerves and blood vessels. These supply the bone with nutrients and protect it from injury. Without this periosteum, the bone would be much more susceptible to damage.
• Kompakta: Directly beneath the periosteum lies the compacta. This is the hard, dense outer layer of the bone, which gives it its stability. This layer is particularly strong and allows our bones to withstand heavy loads such as sports.
• Spongiosa: Inside our bones is the spongiosa, a spongy, porous structure. Although it looks fragile, it is very stable. The porous structure of the spongiosa is light without losing stability. This makes the bone lighter overall, but still remains strong and resilient.
• bone marrow: Inside most bones is the bone marrow, which plays a central role in blood cell formation. This constantly produces new red and white blood cells, which are responsible for oxygen transport and the body's immune system. Without the bone marrow inside our bones, our blood circulation would not function properly.

Structure of the bones – the constant remodeling

The bones in our body are by no means static. In fact, our bones are constantly being remodeled. In this process, old bone substance is broken down and replaced by new. Two types of bone cells are particularly important:

osteoclasts

These cells break down old bone mass. They literally "eat up" the old bone and thus make room for new tissue.

osteoblasts

These cells are responsible for new bone tissue. They produce new bone substance and ensure that the bone remains strong and stable. Osteoblasts renew and repair our bone structure around the clock to ensure its stability.

Thanks to these constant building and breaking down processes, our bone structure remains in balance and is able to adapt to new stresses.

Bones and what they are made of – more than just supporting pillars

As you can see, our bones are more than just rigid and hard structures that form our skeleton and keep us upright. They are complex, living and flexible tissues that perform many important functions. They protect our organs, enable us to perform all of our daily movements, store minerals and produce blood cells. They also constantly renew themselves and adapt to the demands of our lives.

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