Bone still cartilaginous. The following steps are followed in the conversion of cartilage to bone: Bones have a variety of functions: Bones serve a variety of mechanical functions. Together the bones in the body form the skeleton. They provide a frame to keep the body supported, and an attachment point for skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints, which function together to generate and transfer forces so that individual body parts or the whole body can be manipulated in three-dimensional space (the interaction between bone and muscle is studied in biomechanics). Bones protect internal organs, such as the skull protecting the brain
Trapezium (bone) tubercle found on the anterior surface of the bone. It is where sometimes abductor pollicis brevis muscle attaches. The carpal bones function as a unit to provide a bony superstructure for the hand. The trapezium is the most radial of the bones surrounding the carpal tunnel. It is important in thumb movement. The trapezium is susceptible to arthritis at the joint with the metacarpal bone of the thumb, due to overuse. The etymology derives from the Greek "trapezion" which means "a little table", from "trapeza" meaning "table", itself from "(te)tra-" "four" and "pod-" "foot". The bone was first documented in