Page 71 - For Men of Understanding

and protecting the body, bones are created with the capacity and strength to
fulfil this function. The worst conditions possible are taken into consideration
as well. For instance, the thighbone can carry a weight weighing a ton when
perpendicular. Surprisingly, at each step we take, the bone carries a weight
equivalent to three times our body weight. When an athlete pole-vaults and he
lands on the ground, every square centimetre of his pelvis is exposed to a pres-
sure of 1,400 kilograms. What makes this structure, which is formed by the divi-
sion and replication of the single original cell, so strong? The answer to the
question is hidden in the unequalled creation of bones.
An example from today's technology would be helpful to further clarify the
subject. The scaffolding system is used in the construction of spacious and tall
buildings. The support elements of the constructions made with this technique
do not have a monolithic structure, but consist of many intersecting rods form-
ing a scaffold. By the
help of complex calcu-
lations that can only be
made by computers, it
could be possible to
build stronger and more
cost-effective bridges
and industrial construc-
tions.
The internal struc-
ture of bones is similar
to that of the scaffold
system used in the con-
struction of those
bridges and towers. The
only important differ-
ence is that the system
The skeleton is a
real engineering in bones is more com-
miracle. It is plicated and superior to
composed of 206
bones. These fused those designed by men.
bones furnish the By means of this system,
human body with an
extraordinary the bones are extremely
capability of strong and yet light
movement. No robot enough for comfortable
constructed so far
can imitate the use by humans. If the
locomotive ability of opposite were the case,
the human body.

The Human Being 69