Hey there, peeps! You know what’s bone-chillingly fun? (See what I did there?) Crossword puzzles! And what better way to learn about the human skeletal system than by solving one? So, without further ado, let me present to you our very own Skeletal System Crossword Puzzle! But before we begin, let’s get acquainted with our bones, shall we?
Meet the Skeletal System
Our skeletal system is the foundation of our body, quite literally! It provides support, protection, and structure to our body, enabling us to make all sorts of wacky movements. And, as you’ll soon find out, it’s also an excellent subject for a crossword puzzle!
Bones Bones Bones!
Without our bones, we’d all be a puddle of mush on the floor. Ugh, gross. We have 206 bones in our human body. Not only do they give us shape, they also serve other purposes such as regulating our blood sugar levels and storing minerals that we need to stay healthy.
The funny thing about bones is that they’re not all the same size. Some bones like our femur - the thighbone - are the longest and the strongest in the body, while others like the stapes - one of the bones in our ear - are tiny and delicate. And did you know that babies are born with around 300 bones in their body? As they grow up, some bones fuse together, leaving us with 206.
Bone Marrow and Blood Cells
Beneath the hard exterior of our bones, there’s a soft, spongy material called bone marrow. It’s responsible for making red and white blood cells, which are essential for our body to function. Red blood cells carry oxygen to each and every part of our body; white blood cells, on the other hand, are our immune system’s very own superheroes that protect us from infections and diseases.
The Spine that Divides Us
Our spine is not only the backbone of our body, but it’s also the lifeline for our nerves. It houses and protects the delicate spinal cord, which is responsible for transmitting messages from our brain to other parts of our body. If our spine is not healthy, then it can lead to a lot of issues like back pain, numbness, or even paralysis. So make sure you take good care of your back!
Let’s Get Puzzling!
Okay, now that we’ve brushed up on our bone knowledge, let’s get to the fun part - the crossword puzzle! The puzzle is designed to help you learn and remember the different bones of the human body. The clues are given below the puzzle, and the answers are in the end, in case you need some help. But remember, there’s no cheating in puzzles!
We hope you have a bone-tastic time solving the puzzle. Who knows, you might even become a bone-afide expert by the end of it. Let’s get to it!
Clues
Across:
- Also known as the breastbone
- The bone that connects your shoulder to your elbow
- The bone that makes up your kneecap
- The bone that makes up your upper arm, between your shoulder and your elbow
- The longest bone in your body, found in your thigh
Down:
- The topmost bone of your spine, connecting to your skull
- The bone that makes up your ankle
- The bone that makes up your heel
- The bone that makes up your forearm, between your elbow and your wrist
- The bone that makes up your lower leg, between your knee and your ankle
Answers
Across:
- Sternum
- Humerus
- Patella
- Ulna
- Femur
Down:
- Atlas
- Talus
- Calcaneus
- Radius
- Tibia
Done with the puzzle? Congrats, you’re a boss! I hope you had lots of fun and learned a thing or two about our skeletal system. Go flaunt your newfound bone knowledge to your friends and family. Until next time, keep puzzling!