Human Anatomy & Physiology (9th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321743261
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-326-8

Chapter 7 - The Skeleton - Review Questions - Page 247: 14

Answer

First off in a young skeleton the bone mass would be dense, the water content would be normal in the intervertebral discs, and the back vertebrae would be strong. In old age, the discs would be low in water content and would become thinner and less elastic, the spine shorts and would become curved, and all the bones would start losing mass. The thorax becomes rigid as age increases, mainly due to the costal cartilage ossifying. Also, the cranial bones lose less mass with age than most bones, but the contours of the face start to change.

Work Step by Step

Just overall as age continues especially when you start getting older the body become fragile and it starts breaking down.
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