CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Bones are rigid organs from part of the endoskeleton of the vertebrates. They support and protect the various organs of body production red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of tense connective tissue. Bone comes in a variety of shapes and has a complex internal and external structure, are light weight yet strong and hard and serve multiple functions. One of the types of tissue that makes up bone is the mineralized osseous tissue, also called bone tissue that gives it rigidity and a coral-like three dimensional internal structure. Other types of tissue found in bones include marrow endosteum, periosteum, nerves, blood vessel and cartilage. “At birth, there are over 270 bones in an infant human’s body”. (steele D. Gentry et. al (1998). The Anatomy and Biology of the Human skeleton, Texas A&M University press page 4 ISBN-0-89096-300-2), but many of these bones fused together as the child grows, leaving a total of 206 separate bones in an adult. “The largest bone in the human body is the femur and the smallest bones are auditory ossicles.” (Schmiedder et. al (1934) parent and child. An Introductory Study of Parent Education page 31).

   Bones are also a dynamic tissue that performs mechanical, biological and chemical functions and it depends on chemical and physical properties and are affected by age, nutrition, hormonal status and diseases. (Loveridge 1999), the skeletal system forms the external structure and appearance of mammalian vertebrate species and has the obvious functions locomotion, structural support of the body and protection of soft tissue such as brain, heart, spinal cord and lungs. Bone also serves as metabolic reservoir of Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P) and other minerals. Also, it houses cells responsible for bone formation and resorption (Decke et. al 1993).

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