You’re Born with More Bones!
Babies have around 300 bones when they’re born, but some of them fuse together as they grow. Adults end up with 206 bones!

The Strongest Bone is in Your Leg
The femur, or thigh bone, is the longest and strongest bone in your body. It’s so strong that it can support up to 30 times your body weight!

Bone is Stronger than Steel!
Ounce for ounce, bone is stronger than steel. A piece of bone the size of a matchbox could support about 18,000 pounds—that’s as much as 6 or 7 cars!

Tiny Bones in Your Ear Help You Hear
The smallest bones in your body are in your ear: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. They’re about the size of a grain of rice!

Your Skeleton Rebuilds Itself!
Every 10 years or so, your bones rebuild and replace themselves. That means you get a brand new skeleton every decade!

Skulls Have Special Openings
There are 22 bones in your skull, and they’re not just for protecting your brain. The skull has tiny holes called foramina that let nerves and blood vessels pass through, kind of like little doors.

Spooky Glow!
If you shine an ultraviolet (UV) light on bones, they glow in the dark! This is because of a natural substance in bones called phosphorous.

Bones Make Blood
The insides of your bones aren’t hollow; they’re filled with a special substance called marrow. Bone marrow makes red and white blood cells that travel through your body.

Hiccups Are a Bone Mystery!
Some scientists think hiccups are caused by a little spasm in your diaphragm, but no one knows exactly why they happen. Your skeleton helps protect your diaphragm too!

Some People Have Extra Ribs!
Most people have 24 ribs, but some have 25 or even 26! These extra ribs are usually tiny and don’t cause any problems.