Babies are born with approximately ____ bones, many of which fuse together as they grow into adults.
It sounds strange that we "lose" bones as we grow up, but it is a vital part of human development and skeletal structural integrity.
The Fusing Process:
🔗 Babies are born with a significant amount of cartilage, which is a soft and flexible tissue. As they grow, this cartilage slowly undergoes a process called ossification, where it turns into hard bone.
🧩 During this development, many small bones—specifically those in the skull, spine, and sacrum—eventually fuse together to form larger, much stronger, and more stable bones.
The Biological Reason:
👶 Having a higher number of flexible bones is crucial for birth, as it allows the baby to fit through the narrow birth canal. It also provides the necessary flexibility for rapid physical growth during early childhood.