General Knowledge Quiz: What Do Babies Have That Adults Don’t?

Prepare to be astonished by this intriguing question: What unique feature do babies possess that adults lack?

Well, it turns out that babies have **more bones** than adults do.

When newborns come into the world, they boast approximately **300 bones** in their tiny bodies. However, as they grow and develop, many of these bones gradually fuse together. Eventually, the typical adult skeleton consists of **206 bones**, as reported by Britannica.

So, what distinguishes baby skeletons?

1. **Composition of Bones**: Bones are the rigid tissues that provide structural support for our bodies. They consist of cells embedded in a robust, dense intercellular material. This material primarily comprises **collagen** and **calcium phosphate**, setting bones apart from other hard tissues like chitin, enamel, and shell. In humans and other vertebrates, bone tissue forms the individual bones of the skeletal system.

2. **Essential Functions**: Bones serve several critical functions:
– **Structural Support**: They offer support for soft tissue movements, such as muscle contractions and lung expansion.
– **Protection**: Bones shield organs and soft tissues (for instance, the skull protects the brain).
– **Bone Marrow Environment**: They create a protective environment for specialized tissues like bone marrow, where blood cells are produced.
– **Mineral Reservoir**: Bones act as reservoirs for essential minerals like **calcium** and **phosphate**, which the endocrine system regulates to maintain proper levels in the body’s fluids.

3. **Bone Composition**: The primary components of bones are **collagen** and **calcium phosphate**, distinguishing them from other hard tissues like chitin, enamel, and shell.

Remember, the strength of bones directly correlates with their mineral content. For adults, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences recommends a daily calcium intake of **1,000–1,300 mg**, while children should aim for **700–1,300 mg** per day

Source:
https://quillbot.com/
https://www.wikihow.com/General-Knowledge-Quiz.
https://play.howstuffworks.com/quiz/can-you-pass-this-british-general-knowledge-quiz

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