Harry’s science class is studying the human skeleton. The students were amazed to learn that there are 206 bones in the human body! They also learned that more than half of the bones in the human body are in the hands and feet!
Bones vary in length from 1 millimeter (the small bones inside the ears) to 1/2 meter (the femur). There are 22 bones in your skull and 26 bones in your backbone. The bones of a full-grown adult weigh a total of 10 kilograms.
Bones are held together by ligaments and muscles, and are made up of both living and nonliving material. They support our bodies and protect our soft internal organs. Healthy bones require exercise, calcium, and plenty of vitamins D, A, and C.
Harry’s science teacher weighs 160 pounds. What percent of his body weight is due to the weight of his bones? (Use the fact that 1 kilogram is approximately equal to 2.2 pounds.)