Answer:
The major components of bone tissue at the molecular scale are minerals, water, collagen, and other proteins. At the next level of organization, small crystals of hydroxyapatite made of calcium and phosphate are embedded within collagen fibers to produce a composite (blended) material with high compressive and tensile strength.
The skeletal system protects and supports vital organs, allows our body to move, stores important minerals, and produces blood cells. There are several chemical elements and molecules required to maintain the many functions of the skeletal system. The chemical properties of these components support bone structure and function. On a chemical level, bone is divided into inorganic and organic (carbon-containing) components.
The primary inorganic components of bone are:
calcium, which is required for many functions throughout the body;
phosphorus (in the form of phosphate ions), which is a component of buffer systems and energy-rich molecules; and
water, which contributes to the compressive resistance of bone and contributes to the fluid matrix of bone.
The primary organic components of bone are:
collagen, the major structural protein (type I in bone and type II in cartilage); and
proteoglycans, which are negatively charged glycosylated proteins (glycosylated means having carbohydrate sugar groups modifying the protein).
Bone is approximately 60 to 70 percent inorganic mineral and 10 percent water by weight. The remaining 20 to 30 percent of bone is organic matrix (osteoid), such as collagen and proteoglycans. Your body contains 1 to 2 kilograms of calcium and nearly 600 grams of phosphorous. Nearly 99 percent of the calcium and 86 percent of the phosphorous is stored in your bones.
Inorganic Components of Bone
Calcium ions (Ca2+) are stored in bone tissue, but can be released into the bloodstream when blood levels fall below optimal. Blood calcium is important for muscle contractions, nerve impulses, and blood clotting.
In bone, phosphorous (P) is found in the form of phosphate ions (H2PO4–). Outside of bone, phosphorous plays roles in energy storage (such as in ATP), and is required for the formation of DNA and RNA. Therefore, it is required for cellular growth, maintenance, and tissue repair.
When combined with hydrogen, phosphorous forms dihydrogen phosphate ions (H2PO4–). Dihydrogen phosphate acts as a buffer to maintain a constant pH balance by acting as either a hydrogen ion donor (acid) or a hydrogen ion acceptor (base). In all cells, a constant pH must be maintained to carry out cell functions.
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