Need information on the bones? Check out: Rib Anatomy

            The thorax region of the human body is very important for survival and life. The chest houses your lungs, heart, and vital arteries that carry blood to the rest of your body. The human body has created a strong system of defense to protect the chest region At the top of the list of the bodies defenses are the bones.

            Many people know what the skeletal system bones look like. However few know their structure and composition. The skeletal bones are created primarily from calcium phosphate that creates connective tissue. The bones are formed from calcium phosphate and a type of dense connective tissue. Each bone has a unique shape, determined by the genetic code that leads to the formation of the bones. The bones of the body function in protecting the body and providing the body’s shape.

             One key function of the bones that is often overlooked is the production of red and white blood cells. A soft region, known as the bone marrow, is located at the center of many skeletal bones. In this bone marrow region, the red and white blood cells are formed. These  red blood cells are essential for survival of the body, this is because these cells carry oxygen to other cells. White blood cells are very important in that they defend the body against invaders and pathogens.

             In the thorax, twenty five bones can be found. The thorax contains twenty four ribs out of the total twenty five bones in the chest. The sternum is the other bone that makes up the chest. These twenty five thorax bones are very significant in protecting the organs of the respiratory and circulatory system.   The ribs are curved skeletal bones that form a structure known as the rib cage around the lungs and heart. These bones protect the heart and lungs and also expand to allow for breathing. The sternum lies at the center of the chest, protecting the heart.

            These chest bones play an essential role in human survival and existence. It would be very easy to damage organs such as the heart or lungs. Since evolution drives organisms to survive, humans have evolved to develop these thorax bones to protect the lungs and heart. The thorax bones are responsible for 25 out of 206 bones in the human body skeleton.

         To learn more about rib anatomy, head on over to LearnBones.com. Learn Bones is the premier resource on the bones of the human skeleton. There you will find detailed descriptions, diagrams, and images.