FIRM BUT FLEXIBLE
Components of Bone Powerpoint
Adapted from materials provided by The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio
http://teachhealthk-12.uthscsa.edu/curriculum/bones/bone03cchickenbone.asp
OBJECTIVES

By the end of this lab you should be able to:
Determine structure and function of skeleton and
bones
 Analyze the gross anatomy of bone and bone tissue

WHAT IS BONE?

Bone is a LIVING TISSUE made up of three
main components
WHAT IS BONE?

Bone is made of

45% Minerals



Mainly Calcium &
Phosphorus
30% Living Tissue

Composition of
Bone
Elastin & Collagen
25% Water
Minerals
Living
Tissue
Water
MINERALS
The main minerals found in bone are CALCIUM
and PHOSPHORUS
 There function is to provide RIGIDITY to the
bones, or (make them HARD)

LIVING TISSUES

The living tissues in the bone include
BLOOD VESSELS: which carry new blood cells,
nutrients and wastes through the bones
 Elastin: stretchy component of BONE and
CARTILIDGE which allows the bone to BEND
without breaking
 COLLAGEN: new bone GROWTH, hardens with
minerals

HOW BONES CHANGE . . .
In young animals, bones are made of more
PROTEIN
 As the animal ages, the collagen PROTEIN is
hardened with MINERALS like calcium

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN . . .

If an animal had a calcium deficiency when they
were young?
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN . . .


If an animal had a calcium deficiency when they
were young?
Their bones wouldn’t have enough calcium to
harden (or maintain hardness) as they age
LAB MATERIALS
Chicken Leg Bones
 Vinegar
 Bleach
 Scale
 Ruler
 Lab Worksheet

TEST #1: IDENTIFYING LIVING TISSUE
We will be using a substance (VINEGAR) that
will breakdown the MINERAL portions of the
bone
 This process will result in only the LIVING
TISSUES remaining
 The bone will become ________________?

TEST #2: IDENTIFYING BONE MINERALS
We will be using a substance (BLEACH) that will
breakdown the SOFT TISSUE portions of the
bone
 This process will result in only the MINERALS
remaining
 The bone will become ________________?

PROCEDURE
Step 1: Take two chicken bones
 Step 2: Remove all fat and remaining meat
 Step 3: Weigh and measure each bone, record
your findings on the lab worksheet
 Step 4: Label one jar VINEGAR and one jar
BLEACH
 Step 5: Put one bone in each jar
 Step 6: Pour enough liquid in each respective jar
to cover the bones
