Differences Between Infants And Adults Skeleton

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff

The skeleton of an infant is different in many ways from that of an adult. The skull, for example, is relatively flat and the bones are still separated by connective tissue. The rib cage has not yet expanded to its full size and the vertebrae are more flexible because they have not fused.  Adults skeletons differ in this way as well, but there are also other differences. For instance, male adults tend to have a longer clavicle than females which gives them broader shoulders when seen from the side view. Adult males also usually have larger skulls with thicker cranial bones which makes their heads appear bigger from certain angles.

All organisms that grow and develop from an embryo, such as human beings, follow a similar pattern of development. This developmental process is known as ontogeny. Ontogeny begins with the fertilization of the egg by the sperm and ends when an organism can live independently outside of its parent’s body. During this period, many changes occur in both structure and function to transform a single cell into a fully developed individual. One major difference between infants and adults is their ability to survive on their own after birth or hatching because they are so helpless at birth or hatching. For example, newborns have no eyelashes or eyebrows for protection against debris while adult animals need these features to survive in the wild without assistance from others.

Comparison between infants and Adults Skeleton

Parameters of ComparisonInfants SkeletonAdults Skeleton
Curved More curved Less curved 
Head Has soft spot Do not have a soft spot
bondCan be bent Con not be  bent
Rib cageMore narrower Less narrower 

What is an infant’s skeleton?

Infants have more bones than adults-the extra bones are called sutures. They also have more space in their skulls for brain growth, which eventually leads to smaller head sizes as they grow older. But don’t worry! Other things stay the same for both infants and adults-like muscles being connected by tendons or ligaments.

The human skeleton is made up of around 270 bones. The infant’s skeletal system begins to develop at the end of week six. At this point, it consists of a layer called embryonic mesoderm that covers the notochord and will eventually form into cartilage. By the eighth week, individual blocks have formed within this mass to create what are known as somite’s which then become vertebrae and ribs. In addition, limb buds appear during weeks nine through twelve as small bumps on both sides of where the spine will be located as well as along both sides of the body extending from head to tailbone. These limbs begin developing muscles and blood vessels before they even leave their initial site for them to move independently once fully developed.

What is an adult’s skeleton?

If you are an adult, then your skeleton is one of the most important parts of your body. It not only helps to keep you upright and balanced, but it also houses many vital organs – including your heart and lungs. Your skull protects various other bones in your head which support the brain. The ribs protect the chest cavity where major organs reside, along with providing a framework for breathing muscles to operate. Together these provide protection from injury as well as necessary functions for everyday life. 206 individual bones make up an adult’s skeleton.

The human body contains 206 individual bones that form a protective framework around our vital organs such as our heart or lungs; they also give us balance when we walk or run about during everyday life activities.

A skeleton is the framework of the human body. It consists of 206 bones, which can be found all over the body, and provide stability to our frame. Our skeletons grow as we age and change- they are not fully formed by birth. The adult skeleton has a total of 206 bones that include:  -32 in the skull; -14 in the face; -8 in each hand; and –6 in each foot. There are also two spines (vertebrae), 24 ribs, clavicle (collarbone), scapula (shoulder blade), pelvis, sacrum (sacral vertebrae), and coccyx(tailbone). 

10 Differences between Infants and Adults skeleton

Curved: Infant skulls are more curved than adult skulls.

Soft spot: Infants have a fontanelle, or “soft spot” on the top of their heads. 

Bent: The infant spine is not yet fully formed and can be bent in ways that adults cannot.

Rib cage: An infant’s rib cage is narrower and less developed than an adult’s rib cage.

Femurs: A child has shorter and wider femurs than an adult because they haven’t stopped growing yet. 

Heads: Children have larger heads relative to their bodies size due to the growth plates in their skull still being open for growth.

Bones: Adults have about 206 bones, while infants have around 270.

Skull: Infants’ skull is thinner and more flexible than adults’ skulls because their brains are still growing.

Cord: A child’s spinal cord doesn’t close up until they’re 2-5 years old.

Pelvis: The pelvis is wider in adults to accommodate childbirth, which makes it easier for them to move around.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of Infants skeleton

1. Infants are born with all their bones, but they are not completely formed.

2. The skull is the first bone to form and it takes about two years for it to grow into its final shape.

3. A baby’s hand has 27 bones.

4. An infant’s spinal cord is made up of 31 vertebrae, which will eventually fuse as the child grows older.

5. Babies have 206 bones in total.

6. When a baby cries, he or she produces tears that contain an enzyme called lysozyme which helps fight off bacteria and other germs that could cause infection or disease.

Interesting Statistics or Facts of the adult skeleton

1. The adult human skeleton weighs about 8 pounds.

2. The pelvis is the only bone that connects to all four limbs.

3. One of the three bones in your arm, called a humerus, can be found in both arms and legs.

4. There are 206 bones in total – more than any other animal on Earth. 

5. Your skull has 206 different pieces inside it. 

6. You have two collarbones but no ribs between them because they are fused.

Conclusion about the Differences Between Infants and Adults skeleton

Infants have special needs, but the skeleton is similar to adults. As infants grow into toddlers and then children, their bones are changing rapidly. By age 3 or 4 years old, they will be close in height to an adult of that same-sex because most of the growth has occurred by this time. The skull size also changes during childhood as it continues to develop based on genetics and other factors like nutrition. This developmental process can result in a condition called “brachycephaly” which means short-head syndrome where there’s not enough room for brain development since the frontal sinuses (behind the nose) are smaller than normal due to incomplete bone fusion causing too much pressure on them when breathing through your mouth at night while asleep.

References:

Resource 01: https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/your-baby/fetal-development-your-babys-bones_40007704
Resource 02: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_skeleton

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