General Facts of Foundational Structures

Tendon

Connects muscle to bone.

Ligament

Connects bone to bone.

Cartilage

Smooth, flexible tissue that cushions the ends of bones and reduces friction in joints.

Bone marrow

Soft tissue inside bones that makes blood cells.

Red bone marrow

Makes red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Yellow bone marrow

Stores fat and can change into red marrow if needed.

Hematopoiesis

The process of making blood cells.

Collagen

The strong protein that gives tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone their strength.

Dense regular connective tissue

Tough tissue with parallel collagen fibers

Bone (osseous tissue)

Hard living tissue that supports the body, protects organs, and stores calcium.

Hydroxyapatite

The calcium-rich mineral that makes bones hard.

Calcium

The main mineral that gives bones and teeth their hardness.

Hyoid bone

The only bone that does not connect to another bone

Stapes

The smallest bone in the body

Malleus

The "hammer" bone of the middle ear

Incus

The "anvil" bone of the middle ear

Auditory ossicles

The three tiny hearing bones: malleus, incus, and stapes.

Carpals

The 8 bones of the wrist.

Metacarpals

The 5 bones of the palm.

Phalanges (hand)

The 14 bones of the fingers.

Tarsals

The 7 bones of the ankle.

Metatarsals

The 5 long bones of the middle of the foot.

Phalanges (foot)

The 14 bones of the toes.