Quick facts about bones and skeleton

Throughout life, the skeleton is constantly remodeled. Roughly speaking, about one tenth of bone mass is replaced each year.

During the breakdown, damaged bone tissue is cleared away. The skeleton is also a large calcium reserve for the body. Calcium is needed for several vital functions, such as blood clotting and heart muscle function.

If the skeleton is loaded, more bone mass is built. Therefore, physical activity strengthens bones.

With increasing age, the balance between bone-breaking and building cells changes. The ability to replace broken down bone mass simply decreases.

An adult has 206 bones in their body. The skeleton protects sensitive internal organs and is needed for the musculoskeletal system.

More than one in four bones are in the fingers and toes, which together have 54 bones.

The skeleton makes up about 18 percent of an adult's body weight.

The skeleton is home to the bone marrow, which forms new blood cells every day.

The smallest bone in the body is the stapes, which is located in the inner ear. It is about three millimeters long.

The longest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the body is the femur.

Simple knee bends are excellent for strengthening the femur.

Walking, walking, walking. You can never walk to much to give your skeleton the load it needs.