Is that the first time you see your newborn child? It looks so small and fragile so that you will never believe that it is born with around 300 bones!
I bet you’re stunned!
However, do not get confused too fast as it is an issue that needs to be explained.
So, how many bones does a baby have?
In fact, a newborn child has 176 true bones and over 300 cartilaginous bones, which grow and change daily. At the same time, it is crucial to mention, that according to the medical information, a grown-up person has only 206 bones, which means the body of the newborn baby will change and transform a lot during the first years of life.
But how?
How Do Bones Change over Time?
The human skeletal system is exceptionally complex and impressive. Most bones in the body are made of a few layers of tissue. However, when a baby is just born, some of its bones are made of cartilage only. It guarantees maximum flexibility and eliminated risks.
As the baby starts growing up, the cartilage will get replaced by an actual bone. However, that is not the most significant change that will take place during that time.
Just think how many bones babies are born with and then think about the number of bones an adult person has. What makes such a drastic difference possible?
Fusion is the process that may explain the discrepancy. It will stop by early childhood, resulting in the reduction of tiny and flexible bones and the appearance of light but strong ones.
At the same time, it is indispensable to remember that an adult human does not always have 206 bones. This number may change throughout life due to the process called remodeling.
So, how many bones are in a baby body? Will this number decrease, as the child grows up? What may speed the bone loss?
In fact, there are several reasons why adult people may experience bone resorption:
- Age;
- Hormonal changes;
- Alcohol abuse;
- Health disorders.
However, none of these factors may influence the child’s body, which means fusion remains the only process typical for the young age.
How Many Bones Does a Baby Have at Birth and When It Grows Up?
When you know how many bones a baby has and are aware of the processes that take place in the body as the child starts growing up, you will not be confused to hear about the huge difference in the number of bones a child and an adult have. Additionally, you have already learned some specifications of the bone structure that lead to such crucial differences.
Nonetheless, there are several other impressive factors. First of all, it is inevitable to emphasize that the baby’s bones do not completely fuse together at the young age. The ossification process will last up to the age of 25. That is the point when you are likely to have standard 206 bones.
At the same time, it does not mean that the process of bone development has stopped. Remodeling is another stage that will take place, resulting in complete regeneration in the following decade.
Amazing and True Facts About Baby’s Bones
The first time you meet a newborn, you cannot even imagine that such a tiny creature may have over 300 bones.
The human body is complex and interesting, so it might be interesting for you to learn some interesting facts about the skeletal system of a child and specifications of its development:
- A hand is the body part that contains a quarter of most bones – 27;
- There are 26 bones in the foot;
- Bones consist of around 25% of water and keep around 99% of body calcium;
- The skeleton gets completely replaced once every 10 years;
- The femur is the longest bone;
- The newborn’s skull bones have soft tissue among them and are able to move during birth. This allows changing the shape of the baby’s head to make way down the birth canal easier. Thus, after birth, the skull will resemble a cone, but the shape will go back to normal within a couple of days.
