Learnwithsteem 3 - Supporting Tissues In Animals.

Introduction

Hi friends, how's everyone doing? I hope the cold weather isn't disturbing you guys? The weather in my area is very cold and am sure that's how it is in yours.

Today I will be teaching you the topic supporting tissues in animals is a topic in biology🥰

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Supporting tissue in animals

Supporting structures like skeletons provide support against gravity and are flexible enough to allow movement. The main types of materials found in the skeletons of animal are chitin, cartilage and bone.

Chitin : It's a tough, light and flexible material that is a major component of the skeletons of arthropods. It is strengthened by deposits of hardened proteins and minerals.

Cartilage : This tissues is found in the skeletons of complex vertebrates. It consists of living cells and carbohydrate and protein fibres. It is a tough and flexible tissue that has great tensile strength. There are three types of cartilage, Hyaline cartilage, fibro-cartilage and elastic cartilage.

Bone This tissue is the major component of the vertebral skeleton. It consists of living bone cells (osteocytes), protein fibres (collagen) and minerals, mainly calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate.

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The minerals (non-living) make up two-thirds of the mass of a bone. As a result, bone is a stronger and more rigid tissue than cartilage. Bones have their own blood supply to nourish them. The bone is thus ideally constructed to act as skeletal material.

Types of skeletons

Hydrostatic skeleton : Soft-bodied animals like the earthworm use fluid pressure to provide support. This helps to maintain the shape and form of the animal.

Exoskeleton : Arthropods are supported by a skeleton of non-living material which forms on the outside of their bodies. It is secreted by the cells covering the body of the animal.

The main components is chitin which is often strengthened by deposits of protein and minerals, especially calcium carbonate. Exoskeletons are common in aquatic crustaceans like crabs and prawns, are hard and heavy.

Endoskeleton : It is an internal skeleton found in all vertebrates. Bones of many shapes and sizes make up the endoskeleton of vertebrates. These bones are attached together at movable joints by tough flexible fibres called ligaments. This makes the skeleton flexible, muscles are also attached to the bones.

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Together, muscles and bones bring about body movements and locomotion. Each skeleton has;

An axial skeleton which forms the main central axis like the skull, vertebral column, breastbone or sternum and ribs.

An appendicular skeleton which consists of parts that articulates with the axial skeleton like the limb girdles (shoulders and hips) and limbs.

Conclusion

Have come to the end of today's lesson and I hope you guys learnt something new again today? I will be bringing another topic tomorrow so stay tuned and follow me on steemit if you wished to 🙏 Bye.

Cc.

@steemkidss
@eliany