Melissa Raddatz, a family nurse practitioner specializing in bone health, dives into the fascinating world of bones. She answers why we have bones and how many we actually possess. Listeners learn about the differences in bone structure from infants to adults and what happens when we break them. Raddatz explains the healing process and the significance of casts. With statistics revealing that nearly half of kids will break a bone, she also shares valuable tips on injury prevention that every parent should know.
Bones provide essential support and mobility for the human body, functioning as a resilient framework for various activities.
The healing process of broken bones involves nutrient supply and callus formation, highlighting the importance of safe practices and nutrition.
Deep dives
The Role of Bones in the Body
Bones are integral to human movement and structure, providing support for the body and enabling mobility. They function much like building blocks, forming a framework that allows for activities such as running and jumping. Unlike animals with exoskeletons that protect their shape from the outside, humans and many other mammals possess an internal skeleton that is surrounded by muscles and skin. This internal structure not only gives shape but also benefits from protective tissues that help prevent injury to the bones.
Understanding Bone Growth and Composition
The human skeleton is composed of approximately 206 bones in adults, while infants are born with around 270 bones that fuse together as they grow. Bones consist of several components, including bone marrow, which is crucial for growth, and a hard exterior that provides necessary strength. The growth plates in bones remain soft during childhood, allowing for lengthening until the body signals them to stop growing. This complex structure enables flexibility and resilience, allowing bones to withstand movement without breaking.
How Bones Heal and the Importance of Protection
When bones break, the healing process involves the supply of blood and nutrients to the affected area, facilitating the formation of a callus that aids recovery. Younger individuals tend to heal faster due to their more active cellular metabolism, leading to quicker recovery times for fractures compared to older adults. Despite the resilience of bones, injuries can occur during physical activities, emphasizing the importance of safe practices to prevent accidents. To maintain bone health and strength, a balanced diet rich in nutrients and adequate rest are essential for all age groups.
Why do we have bones? How do they grow–and how do they know when to stop growing? How many do we have in our bodies? And when we break our bones, how do they heal? What do casts do? And how do you know if you’ve broken a bone? Broken bones are a common occurrence in kids. Up to 40% of girls and up to 50% of boys will break a bone in their lifetime. In this episode, we learn about the role of bones in our body and how to deal with a fractured bone with Melissa Raddatz, a family nurse practitioner at Duke Health System in North Carolina. The first part of this episode is all about bones in general, and we shift to broken bones for the second half.