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The coccyx, femur, and tibia. Only three bones in 206 in an adult body. Then of course there are something along the lines of 70,000 miles of vein in the adult human body as well. Such a complex machine, this body. However, the anatomy of a tree is far simpler. With roots, leaves, and five layers to its branches and trunks, however, the tree is still quite a fascinating organism.
LEAVES
What good are leaves other than providing shade and work in Autumn? They receive the UV rays that are essential to the tree's functioning and health. The leaves soak up these rays and through the complicated process of photosynthesis, in which the sun's rays are converted into necessary nutrients for the tree's life.
ROOTS
The roots are the tree's IVs. They suck valuable nutrients and water from the soil and send that good stuff up the trunk, and out to the branches and leaves. Roots come in all shapes and sized. Some trees will have an anchor root which often heads straight down into the ground... you guessed it- to anchor the tree! Other satellite roots shoot in all directions, maximizing the water-gathering capacity of the tree. Some of these roots are heart roots, big roots that get deeper than the others and provide stability as well as some absorption of water and nutrients. Then you have woody roots. These get thicker every year and will usually live as long as their tree. Trees also have roots with the sole purpose of absorbing; these roots will actually die and be replaced every year.
So those roots you sometimes trip over when on a hike, and the roots that crack your concrete, are the woody heart roots that spread far and get deeper the further they are from the trunk.
TRUNK
There is far more to a tree trunk than meets the eye. These complex parts of trees have five layers. The outermost is called the- wait for it... outer bark. This is basically the skin. It insulates the tree, protects it from undue moisture but also keeps moisture in during dry stretches, and protects the tree from damage. The outer bark is supported with nutrients from the inner layers.
Then there is the inner bark. No surprise there. The scientific word for the inner bark is phloem. This stuff lives, dies, becomes cork (part of the outer bark), and is then replaced by the tree's normal processes. The phloem transports food all over the tree. It is the meals on wheels for the tree.
Next comes the cambium cell layer. This is where most of the trunk growing happens. Every year it produces a new layer of inner bark, responding to nutrients and even hormones that come through the phloem.
The fourth layer is called sapwood. This is because it 'saps' up water and sends it all over the tree, much like the phloem transports nutrients and hormones. This is usually quite a thick layer.
Heartwoood is the core of the tree. It is immensely strong, due to its make up of cellulose fibers stuck together by lignin. This core keeps the tree straight and strong.
So, the next time you walk by a tree, stop a second. Ponder on all of the activity going on under that outer bark. And be thankful for all the oxygen that this tree is producing for you.
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Author Bio Box: Jared Garrett
 http://www.helium.com/user/show/45690
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