DeepSummary
The episode begins with a brief introduction from Anna Weigel about a donation request for the podcast. Mr. Bone Jangles, the resident skeleton at Brains On headquarters, then takes over and discusses the importance of bones in the human body. He explains that without bones, we would be a 'squishy pile of skin and muscles and guts' and unable to move effectively.
To back up his claims, Mr. Bone Jangles brings in a pediatrician named Emma Gerstenzang. She explains that all creatures that move need either an exoskeleton (hard outer shell) or an endoskeleton (internal skeleton) to move effectively, especially on land where they have to fight against gravity. Without bones, she says, we would be like 'a big sack of fluid and tissue' and unable to get around.
Mr. Bone Jangles wraps up by reiterating that bones give our muscles something solid to push against, protect our organs, and allow us to move. He then promotes other Brains On content and thanks the episode's contributors.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Bones form an internal skeletal system or endoskeleton in humans and other creatures that move on land.
- The skeletal system gives structure and shape to the body, preventing us from being a shapeless 'sack'.
- Bones allow mobility by providing leverage points for muscles to push against.
- Bones protect vital organs like the heart, lungs, and brain from damage.
- An endoskeleton is necessary for land creatures to overcome gravity and move effectively.
- Aquatic creatures can get by with less skeletal support by using buoyancy.
- All mobile creatures require either an internal skeleton (endoskeleton) or external shell (exoskeleton) for movement and structure.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Without your bones, you'd simply be a squishy pile of skin and muscles and guts, like a partially full garbage bag or one of those things you see outside of a car dealership with those inflatable balloon thingies.“ by Mister Bone jangles
- “The reason that we have bones is because all creatures that move need something hard and strong to help them move.“ by Emma Gerstenzang
- “If you didn't have any bones, you would just be like a big sack of fluid and tissue, which would make it really hard to get around, especially on land.“ by Emma Gerstenzang
- “But because we live on land, we have to fight against gravity. We need something really hard and strong that our muscles can push against to help us be able to move.“ by Emma Gerstenzang
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Episode Information
Moment of Um
American Public Media
6/7/24
Bones! We’ve got lots of them. Leg bones, arm bones, face bones, even ear bones! But…not all animals even have bones inside their bodies. So what are our skeletons for? Why do we have them? We asked pediatrician Dr. Emma Gerzenstang to help us find the answer.
Got a topic you’d like to bone up on? Send us a question at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll paTELLa you the answer.