Here at Lexington Family Chiropractic, we're amazed by the human body. The strength and delicacy of the skeleton is one of those amazing aspects of the body. Let's spend a couple of minutes looking at the basic anatomy of bones.

When we think of bones we might think of dead static objects, but you couldn't be further from the truth. Bones are complex, living structures. If you cut a human femur (thigh bone) in half, from end to end, you would see that bones have a lot more going on than you might think.

The outside layer of the bone, the periosteum (peri- means around or surrounding and -osteum refers to bone) is a thin, tough, fibrous layer that covers the entire bone. All articulating surfaces of bones (places where bones form joints with other bones) are covered with cartilage, whose slick provides a smooth gliding motion between bones. Inside of the periosteum, the shaft of the bone is composed of compact bone material, a densely formed material that provides the strength of bones. The bulbous ends of the bones are composed of spongy bone material, which produces and stores red bone marrow, which produces many components of blood. Inside the compact bone of the shaft is a cavity, called the medullary cavity. This space produces and stores yellow bone marrow, which is essentially a fat (energy) storage area.

We believe that the more you know about your how your body is put together and how it works, the better you'll be able to make safe and healthy lifestyle choices.

To find out more about your amazing bones and how they work, please contact us or give us a call at 859-264-1140 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Gallantine and our entire staff look forward to seeing you soon.

Remember, you don't have to live with the pain!