How many bones are there in the human body

There are 206 named bones a normal, complete, adult human skeleton.

However, individual people / skeletons can have more than 206 bones including various small un-named bones that have formed, typically in high-friction areas of the body.

List the 206 bones in the human body

Bones of the human body can be classified (i.e. grouped or described) as the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.

It might be easier to learn the names of the bones of the human skeleton in these two groups than to try to remember one list of 206 human bones.

List of the 80 bones of the Axial Skeleton:

Comments

Number
of each of this bone

Most of the vertebrae are usually referred to by numbers rather than names.

The sternum is also known colloquially as the ‘breast bone’.

Total:

List of the 126 bones of the Appendicular Skeleton:

Comments

Number
of each of this bone

The symmetry of the body is such that there are 2 clavicle bones and 2 scapula bones, one on each of the left and right sides of the body.

The two upper limbs have symmetrical bone structures, hence the list of even numbers of bones for each name / category of bone listed.

E.g.(2.) there are 10 metacarpal bones; 5 in each hand. These could be listed individually as metacarpal I, metacarpal II, metacarpal III up to metacarpal V on each of both the left- and right- hands.

The hip bones are also called the ‘coxal bones’ and have 3 parts: ilium, ischium and pubis.

The two lower limbs have symmetrical bone structures, hence the list of even numbers of bones for each name / category of bone listed.

E.g. (1.) there is a femur bone in both the left- and right- legs.

E.g.(2.) there is a cuboid bone, which is one of the tarsal bones, in each of the left- and right- ankles.

Total:

___
126

The tables above indicate that:

There are 80 named bones in the axial skeleton.
There are 126 named bones in the appendicular skeleton.

Therefore, there are 80 + 126 = 206 named bones in the human skeleton.

Sesamoid bones and sutural bones are mentioned on the page about the different types of bones in the human skeleton.

Apart from the patellae (also known as ‘kneecaps’), which are the only named sesamoid bones in the human body, the number and location of sesamoid and sutural bones in the skeleton varies considerably from person to person. It may also change over a person’s lifetime e.g. if someone changes from having a sedentary lifestyle to one invloving much manual labour and, as a result, develops additional sesamoid bones in his hands.

Take into account the maximum number of marks available. If only one mark is available for that part of the question, the expected answer may be short and simple, e.g. «206 named bones«.

There is no need to name or list all the bones or to label them on a diagram unless asked to do so.

In the cases of longer questions e.g. including several parts and with more marks available, credit may be given for distinguishing between named and un-named bones and explaining that the minimum number of bones in the human body is 206, which is the total number of named bones.

How many bones can you find in the human body?

Author: Shahab Shahid MBBS • Reviewer: Francesca Salvador MSc
Last reviewed: July 27, 2022
Reading time: 37 minutes

There are a total of 206 bones in the adult human body. They range in size from the tiniest found in the middle ear, to the largest that forms our thigh. The human body has an amazing array of different bones, many of which you can find on yourself or on a skeleton. Knowledge of the skeletal structure of the human body is essential to know before any anatomy exam, especially in clinical situations where accurate descriptions of bony trauma will be required.

In this article, we will systematically go through all the bones of the body, describe their location, and joints.

Key facts

Joints	Fibrous: suture, syndesmotic, gomphosis Cartilaginous: symphysis, synchondrosis Synovial: plane, hinge, pivot, condyloid, saddle, ball and socket
Axial skeleton	Skull: frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid Face: mandible, maxilla, zygomatic, nasal, lacrimal, teeth Vertebral column: cervical, thoracic, lumbar Ribs: true, false, floating Auditory ossicles: malleus, incus, stapes Hyoid bone
Appendicular skeleton	Upper limb: scapula, clavicle, humerus, forearm, wrist, hand Lower limb: pelvis, hip, thigh, leg, foot

Joints

There are three main types of joints: fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial.

Fibrous joints

Cartilaginous joints

Synovial joints

These are the most common joints in the body. They are found in the appendicular skeleton e.g. knee, hip, and shoulder. They are also found in the axial skeleton e.g. zygapophyseal joints between the facets of adjacent vertebrae. Synovial joints are defined by the presence of a fluid filled synovial membrane lined joint cavity, which lies between the articulating bony surfaces. All synovial joints are referred to as diarthrotic, as they are freely movable in one or multiple planes. There are numerous types of synovial joints.

Plane joints

Plane joints (gliding) are where surfaces of the bones slide across each other. The intercarpal joints of the wrist region are an example of this. They are uniaxial, in that they only move in one surface plane making a linear motion.

Hinge joints

Hinge joints are uniaxial joints that allow for angular motion in a single plane such as flexion and extension. The definition is when part of a bone wraps around another in a cylinder-like structure; like the hinge of a door. Examples include the knee joint which forms between the femoral condyles and the tibial plateau, and the elbow joint, which forms between the humerus and the bones of the forearm (radius and ulna).

Pivot joints

Pivot joints are also uniaxial joints, however, they only permit rotational motion. They consist of a circular part of a bone that rotates inside the ligament of another. An example is the atlantoaxial joint, between the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) cervical vertebrae, that allow us to rotate our head.

Condyloid joints

Condyloid joints are found between two articulating surfaces; one oval articular surface nestles within the depression of the opposing articulating surface. The difference between these and ball and socket joints, is the shape of the articulating surfaces in condyloid joints; the joint surfaces are oval instead of spherical. These are biaxial joints that produce angular motions, as they are able to flex and extend, as well as abduct and adduct. The radiocarpal joint, between the radius and the scaphoid, is an example.

Saddle joints

Saddle joints are formed between convex and concave articulating surfaces. An example is the first carpometacarpal joint, between the trapezium and the metacarpal bone of the thumb, which enables us to oppose our thumbs. These joints create angular motions in several planes, opposition included, and are known as biaxial.

Ball and socket joints

Ball and Socket joints are characterized by the spherical shaped head of a bone lying inside a spherical or round cavity of another. Examples include the hip joint and the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint, however, is a little more complex than the hip joint, which will be discussed later. These joints are multiaxial, meaning they can move in all directions creating angular motions that include circumduction and rotation.

Take a pause here to quiz yourself on the types of synovial joints:

Axial skeleton

Skull

The skull is formed by a number of plate-like bones coming together via suture joints. Together, they form the bony foundation of the cranial cavity. There are a number of bones that are joined together by suture joints, which result in the skull forming a rigid cavity in which the cerebrum and cerebellum are housed.

Frontal bone

Temporal bones

Think you know the bones of the body? Test yourself with our bone quizzes and labeled diagrams- or use them to learn the topic from scratch!

The vestibulocochlear nerve is able to leave (move laterally away from midline) the cranial vault via the internal acoustic meatus, which is a small opening that also allows the facial nerve to leave the skull. The vestibulocochlear nerve then divides in the inner ear into its vestibular and cochlear branches. The squamous portion forms the lateral inferior surface of the skull and contributes a process to the zygomatic arch. The paired bones overlie the temporal lobes of the brain. The jugular foramen and foramen lacerum are also found at the posterior and anterior borders of the bones respectively.

Parietal bones

Occipital bone

Sphenoid bone

The sphenoid bone — This is an important bone that forms the anterior and medial floor of the middle cranial fossa, and houses the pituitary gland within its body (sella turcica). The entire bone looks like a butterfly when seen from above, and has a keystone-like place in the base of the skull. It has greater and lesser wings, with the greater wings forming the floor of the middle cranial fossa, and the lesser wings forming the most posterior region of the anterior cranial fossa.

The bone has many foramina, which allow numerous cranial nerves (optic via the optic canal, oculomotor via the superior orbital fissure, trochlear via the superior orbital fissure, all three divisions of the trigeminal nerve and abducens via the superior orbital fissure), to leave the cranial cavity and innervate the eyes and face. The sphenoid bone also contributes a small part of the lateral surface of the skull via its greater wing. It articulates with the frontal bone anteriorly, the temporal bone posteriorly, the parietal bone via the lateral edge of its greater wings, and with the clivus, the anterior superior projection of the occipital bone, on which the brainstem and basilar artery are found.

Ethmoid bone

Auditory ossicles

Surface anatomy

The lateral surface of the skull has a point known as the pterion, where four bones of the skull come together. This point is just superficial to the middle meningeal artery.

The occipital protuberance (unpaired) is an easily palpable landmark that projects from the posterior surface of the occipital bone.

Mandible

The lower jaw is known as the mandible. The mandibular condyle articulates with the temporal articular process. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is able to protract and retract as well as elevate and depress the mandible. The TMJ is the only synovial joint found in the skull. The ramus of the mandible is the section inferior to the condyle, and forms its posterior edge. The angle is where the corner of the mandible is, and the body is the jaw itself, where the teeth attach.

The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus, and allows the inferior alveolar branch of the mandibular nerve (a branch of the trigeminal nerve) to enter the mandible and innervate the lower teeth.

Maxilla

The upper jaw is known as the maxilla. The maxilla contains an air sinus, which lightens the bone and has a role in the sound of phonation. The maxilla articulates with the nasal bones at the lateral margin of the bony nasal septum and with the zygomatic bone at lateral margin.

Zygomatic bone

The zygomatic bone forms a joint with the zygomatic process of the temporal bone to form the inferior part of the zygomatic arch. The superior part of the arch is formed by the zygomatic process of the frontal bone.

Nasal bones

The nasal bones form the bony structures of the proximal nose, and the frontal bones join them superiorly. They lie on each side and are joined at the midline forming the bridge of the nose.

Lacrimal bones

The lacrimal bones are small bones that contribute to the inferomedial part of the floor of the bony orbit. The other bones forming the orbit are the frontal bone forming the posterior superior surface and the sphenoid bone (greater wing) forming the back of the orbit. The maxilla forming parts of the inferior and posterior surfaces. The ethmoid bone forms the medial surface of the orbit.

Teeth

Hyoid bone

The hyoid bone is a bone that resides in the cervical region, superior to the thyroid cartilage. It is special in the sense that it has no bony attachments, but gives support to the upper airway.

Surface anatomy

For more details about the skull bones, take a look below:

Or take our quiz to test yourself on all those bones of the skull!

Vertebral column

There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and 5 lumbar vertebrae. The vertebral column also includes the sacrum, which is typically formed from 5 fused vertebrae and the coccyx, usually formed by three or more fused vertebrae. Each group of vertebrae is unique in their anatomy and therefore have adapted to their function(s).

Cervical vertebrae

The seven cervical vertebrae are the smallest. The 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae are unique in their anatomy, as they articulate with the skull, and stabilize the head to enable nodding and shaking of the head. C1 is known as Atlas (after the Greek titan who holds up the skies). This vertebra has large articulating processes that form joints with the occipital condyles. It does not have a body, and is instead ring shaped. C2 is known as the axis, and has articulating surfaces that form zygapophyseal joints with the inferior facets of the Atlas. This vertebra can easily be identified by the presence of the odontoid peg (dens), a superior projection that allows the axis to remain closely bound to the atlas (and stabilized by the atlantoaxial ligaments), and enables smooth movement of the skull for rotational motions. Nodding movements occur at the atlantooccipital joint

The remaining five cervical vertebrae are very similar in structure. They all have horizontal facet joints, and are stacked like coins. This means that they are inherently unstable, hence the uncovertebral joints. These are bony ridges on the lateral surfaces of the vertebral bodies that stabilize the cervical spine. There is also a large amount of surrounding musculature, fascia, and ligaments. The only thing to note is that C7 has a prominent spinous process, which is why it is called the vertebra prominens (palpable). The cervical spinous processes are bifid. Also, the cervical vertebrae all have foramen within their transverse processes, and they are simply called the transverse foramen. The vertebral artery ascends through these foramen and enters at the level of C6. The vertebral veins also run in this foramen.

The cervical spine itself has a large degree of mobility, including flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation.

Thoracic vertebrae

The twelve thoracic vertebrae have heart shaped bodies, and have inferiorly directed spinous processes. The transverse processes articulate with the neck of each of the ribs. The vertebral canal get progressively smaller as you descend in the vertebral column since spinal nerves gradually leave to innervate the limbs and the trunk. The zygapophyseal joints are directed in a vertical orientation, which limits anterior and posterior movement of the vertebrae.

Lumbar vertebrae

The lumbar vertebrae have large kidney bean shaped bodies, with thick short pedicles and short sturdy spinous processes. The zygapophyseal joints connect to each other in a horizontal configuration, which allows the lumbar region to have a great degree of mobility, including flexion, extension, and rotation.

Between each two vertebrae of the vertebral column, intervertebral foramen (paired) can be found. These paired foramina are where the mixed spinal nerves leave the spinal canal, and form the nerve plexi and other innervations.

There are 7 true ribs, 3 false ribs, and 2 floating ribs. They all form costovertebral joints with the thoracic vertebrae. The true ribs are named as such since they form a direct articulation with the sternum anteriorly. The false ribs also form a connection with the sternum anteriorly, but it is via costal cartilage, and the floating ribs do not form connections anteriorly at all.

Posteriorly, the ribs form costovertebral joints with the thoracic vertebrae, which consist of one facet joint with the margin between two adjacent thoracic vertebrae, and another joint between the neck of the rib and the transverse process of the thoracic vertebra. These joints allow for the bucket handle movement, allowing for expansion of the lungs during the breathing mechanisms.

Surface anatomy

The spinous process of C7 known as the vertebral prominens is easily palpable at the posterior base of the neck.

Master the anatomy of the ribs and vertebral column using the following study units:

Or take a quiz to test your knowledge on the bones of the trunk if you’re already feeling confident!

Appendicular skeleton

Upper limb

Scapular region

The scapula is a triangular shaped bone that sits on the surface of the posterior thoracic wall. It forms the scapulothoracic joint via its anterior surface. This is a purely physiological joint, as there is no bony connection between the scapula and thoracic wall itself.

Does remembering all 206 bones feel like an impossible feat? Test your knowledge of the bones of the body with our bone quizzes and labeled diagrams- or use them to learn the topic from scratch!

The glenoid fossa projects from the superolateral surface of the scapula, and articulates with the head of the humerus. The glenoid fossa is deepened by the glenoid labrum (a ring of cartilage), which also provides a suction effect for the joint. The glenohumeral joint is a highly mobile joint, but is unstable as a result. Although the glenohumeral joint is a ball and socket joint, the glenoid fossa (the socket) is shallow like a dish. The head of the humerus is also semi-spherical, and has little bony support. This is counteracted by the rotator cuff muscles forming a strong muscular cuff formed of four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis). The rotator cuff muscles surround the head of the humerus and holds it in place in the glenoid fossa. There is also significant ligamentous support in the form of glenohumeral ligaments. The tendon of the long head of biceps (which runs in the intertubercular sulcus or bicipital groove and inserts onto the supraglenoid tubercle) also provides inferior support during external rotation of the shoulder.

The scapula has a supraspinous fossa and an infraspinous fossa, which are the points of origin of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. The scapular spine divides the two. The suprascapular notch is a small notch found on the superior margin of the supraspinous fossa. The suprascapular nerve runs in the space, and the suprascapular artery runs above it.

Clavicle

The clavicle articulates with the manubrium of the sternum medially via its rounded medial surface. Laterally, its flat surface articulates with the acromion of the scapula. The bone is s shaped and lies superficially under the skin. The sternoclavicular joint is a saddle synovial joint, and the acromioclavicular joint is a gliding synovial joint.

Humerus

The humerus articulates with the glenoid fossa at the glenohumeral joint i.e. the shoulder joint. It has an anatomical neck (directly below the head of the humerus) and a surgical head (the initial section of the superior shaft, below the tubercles). The shaft is the long part of the bone, and it has two articulating surfaces at its distal end, the trochlea and capitulum, which articulate with the ulna and radius, respectively. The humerus also has a spiral groove in which the radial nerve runs. Due to this anatomy, humeral fractures may result in radial nerve palsy causing wrist drop.

Forearm

This region is formed by the radius and ulna. The head of the radius lies proximally, and sits within the annular ligament, which attaches onto the ulna above the flat quadrate ligament. The head of the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus. The base of the radius is large and forms the radioscapholunate component of the wrist joint.

The ulna has a large proximal end, which has the trochlear notch, in which the trochlea of the humerus articulates. The posterior part of the ulna has a large olecranon process also known as the elbow. The ‘funny bone’ is a common saying that actually does not include a bone at all. It’s the ulnar nerve that runs behind the medial epicondyle which projects from the medial surface of the humerus. If you knock this region of the elbow, it sends a tingling sensation down the forearm, hence the name. The radius and ulna are connected along their length by a strong interosseous membrane, which is perforated by vessels. They have radial and ulnar styloid processes on the lateral surface of their distal sections (when looking at the bones individually).

Wrist

The carpal bones form the bony basis of the wrist region. They are best learnt by dividing them into rows. The proximal row consists of the lunate which articulates with the medial section of the distal radial articulating surface. The triquetrum articulates with the triangular fibrocartilaginous complex and indirectly with the distal articulating surface of the ulna. The pisiform is a pea-like sesamoid bone (a bone that lies in a tendon) that sits on top of the triquetrum and lies within the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris. The scaphoid articulates with the distal radius and is cashew shaped. It links the proximal and distal rows of carpals.

The distal row consists of the trapezium, which articulates with the first metacarpal (remember trapezium with the thumb). Next to the trapezium, is the trapezoid, a smaller carpal bone that articulates with the second metacarpal. The capitate lies radially, and articulates with the third metacarpal (think of capitate as in capital city found in the centre of a country). The hamate has a prominent hook you can locate on its anterior surface, and forms joints with the fourth and fifth metacarpals.

The wrist joint itself is formed between the distal articulating surface of the radius, and the scaphoid and lunate carpal bones. The distal articulating surface of the ulna also articulates with the triquetrum via the triangular fibrocartilaginous complex.

The hand is formed by the metacarpals and phalanges. It is a complex structure with numerous small interconnecting bones. The metacarpals connect the carpals to the phalanges. The first metacarpal articulates with the trapezium carpal. The second metacarpal articulates with the trapezoid carpal bone. The middle metacarpal articulates with the capitate carpal bone. The fourth and fifth metacarpals articulate with the hamate bone.

The phalanges are divided into proximal, middle, and distal, which get progressively smaller the more distal you look. The thumb only has proximal and distal phalanxes, and forms a bi-concave convex saddle joint with the trapezium via its metacarpal. It is the combination of this joint and our elongated thumbs that allow us to oppose the thumb and therefore perform complex tasks with our hands.

Now is a good time to revise all those upper limb bones you’ve just learned with a quiz!

Surface anatomy

The clavicle has a subcutaneous course and is easily palpable along its course. The manubrium and sternum lie in the midline of the chest, and are also easy to palpate.

The radial and ulnar styloid processes can be found close to the wrist joint (distal in lateral and medial anatomical position).

The posterior surface of the radius is where we find the dorsal tubercle of Lister. The extensor pollicis longus wraps around this landmark.

The olecranon arises from the posterior surface of the ulna and is the insertion point of the triceps brachii.

Find out more about the bones of the upper limb below:

Lower limb

Pelvis

The sacrum articulates with the wedge shaped body of L5 and also with the sacral articular processes. This reduces the pressure on this level of the vertebral column. There are strong sacrospinous, sacrotuberous, and iliolumbar ligaments that offer support to the bony anatomy. The sacrum sits in the midline as the posterior margin of the pelvic inlet. The sacrum has ala (wings) and sacral foramina, which allow the sacral spinal nerves to leave the vertebral canal two nerves at a time.

The pelvis is a unified bone formed by three separate bones. These are the ilium, ischium, and pubis. All three bones join together in the acetabulum (hip socket). The ilium has a large crest that forms the bony superior edges of the false pelvis. Notable landmarks on the ilium include the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), to which the inguinal ligament attaches. The anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) lies below the ASIS, and is where the rectus femoris muscle attaches.

The ischium is the inferior of the three bones, and it has prominent tuberosities on its inferior surface. It is where the hamstring muscles attach, and is the surface we sit on (sit bones). The ischial spines are found superiorly to these, and form the insertion point of the sacrospinous ligament. This ligament divides this space of the superior and inferior sciatic notches which forms the greater and lesser sciatic foramen. The sacrotuberous ligament (which runs from the sacrum to the ischial tuberosity) then forms the inferior margin of the sciatic foramina.

The pubis is the anterior bone of the pelvis. The pubic symphysis joint is a joint between the two pubic bones in the anterior midline. Lateral to this joint on the superior pubic rami, is where the pubic tubercle can be found. This is where the inguinal ligament attaches medially. There is a superior and inferior pubic ramus on each side, which are separated by the obturator foramen. The obturator nerve leaves via this foramen to innervate the medial compartment of the thigh.

The hip joint is a ball and socket joint and is formed between the head of the femur and the acetabulum. It is a deep joint reinforced by the acetabular labrum and strong ligaments, namely the iliofemoral, ischiofemoral, and pubofemoral. The iliofemoral is the strongest ligament in the human body and has two distinct bundles. Hence it is also known as the ‘y ligament of Bigelow.’ It is a highly strong and mobile joint.

Thigh

The thigh is the proximal region of the leg and the bony basis is the femur. The femur is a long bone that forms two condyles distally that articulate with the tibial plateau. The shaft of the bone angles inferomedially, which makes an angle from the vertical called the Q angle. The lateral surface of the superior femoral shaft gives rise to the greater trochanter, which is the site of insertion of the short external rotators of the hip. The lesser trochanter projects from the medial surface of the shaft, lower than the greater trochanter, and is the site of insertion of the iliopsoas muscle. The posterior surface of the femoral shaft gives rise to the linea aspera (bony landmark), which is the insertion site of the vastus lateralis and medialis.

How Many Bones Are There in the Human Body?

There are 206 bones at adult human body skeleton system.Babies,infants have about 231 bones.The skeleton provides stability and structure, assists in movement, protects organs, stores minerals and produces blood cells.

Human Skeleton Structure

The Skull

The skull is comprised of about 22 bones that protect the brain, support the facial structure and are involved in allowing humans to hear.

The Vertebral Column

The vertebral column is comprised of about 24 bones that support the body, assist in movement and protect the spinal cord. It has sections that are divided, from the skull down, into the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions.

Thoracic

The thoracic portion of the skeleton includes about twelve pairs of ribs and the sternum, and is integral in protecting delicate internal organs.

Upper Limb Bones

Including about 64 bones, this region of the upper body includes the upper limb bones and pectoral girdle, located around the shoulders. These bones are essential for much of human movement.

Lower Limb Bones

The lower limb bones include the 62 bones of the pelvic girdle and the lower limbs, to the foot. These bones are instrumental for locomotion and reproduction.

How many bones are there in the human body?

THE human skeleton is what holds us up, protects our organs, and houses our bone marrow where blood cells are made.

How many bones are in the human body?

There are three ear bones, known as ossicles, in each ear. The malleus, incus, and stapes mature by the time we are a year old, and don’t change after that.

There is even a bone at the base of your tongue, the hyoid bone, which is important for talking, swallowing and breathing.

Down at the other end of your skeleton, there are 26 bones in each of your feet.

In fact, more than half the bones in the body can be found in your hands and feet.

Newborn babies have over 300 bones, some of which fuse together as they grow.

In some unusual cases, people can be born with more bones, like an extra pair of ribs, or an extra finger or toe.

The Adam and Eve story in the Bible has led some people to believe that men have one fewer rib than women, but this is not the case.

There are four layers in bone: the outside is a thin layer of nerves and blood vessels.

Next is the very hard white layer that typifies skeletons; inside this is a strong spongy layer, and blood-making, jelly-ish bone marrow is right in the middle.

Do women have more bones than men?

Women also have lighter, smaller, thinner bones than men, and are more likely to suffer with low bone density as they get older and oestrogen levels drop.

Women are at much higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men.

Men generally have bigger heads and longer limbs than women, who often have longer torsos.

Women also have a different pelvis in order to have children.

What is the longest bone in the human body?

On average, the human femur is 50.55cm (19.9 inches) long.

The tibia is on average 42.93cm (16.9 inches) long, and the fibula is an average length of 40.39cm (15.9 inches).

The humerus, the long bone of the upper arm, is the next longest bone in the human body, averaging 35.8cm (14.1 inches).

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The two bones in the lower arm are the next longest, followed by the eighth and ninth ribs.

The collar bone, clavicle, is the most often broken bone in the human body, because it is slim and in a vulnerable position.

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How many bones are there in the human body

Fascinating Facts About the Human Skeleton

September 9, 2019

No matter who you are,
you’ve got something that everybody else has got, too: a skeleton! Underneath
your skin sits a complex system of bones to keep you upright and moving. Here
are some fascinating facts you and your kids can enjoy about the human skeletal
system.

How many bones do humans have?

It’s common knowledge that there are 206 bones in the human body. But that’s not the case for everyone. Adults have 206 bones; at birth, people have around 270. There are spaces in between a lot of those bones, giving room for everything to grow and, by adulthood, a lot of bones fuse together, significantly reducing the total count.

Why do humans need bones?

Can you name the two primary functions of bones? The first is structure. They give bodies their “human” shape. The other purpose: They protect organs. The vertebrae of the back bone keeps the spinal cord safe, for example, while the lungs and heart get to do what they do thanks to the protection of the sternum and rib cage.

In Who Knew? Human Anatomy, you’ll learn gobs of fascinating facts about the most sophisticated machine in the world—the human body.

How much of your body weight is bone weight?

Around 14 percent of your total body weight is made up of bones.

What part of the body has the most bones?

The most complicated skeletal structures are the hands and feet. One hand contains 27 bones, while a foot consists of 26. That means over half of an adult’s bones are hand and foot bones.

How are bones different from each other?

There are two kinds of bones, and the differences are subtle. Cortical bones are the main, structure-providing bones, and are the denser and harder of the two types. The other are the slightly softer trabecular bones. Some examples of this type: the pelvis, ribs, and skull. They’re not as thick as cortical bones, but they’re still quite hard.

What are the inside of bones like?

Bone marrow. What’s inside of bone marrow? Stem cells, which go on to become brain, heart, blood, and, of course, bone cells.

What chemicals are inside of bones?

Bones are made up primarily of calcium, phosphorus, and sodium, although they’re about 50 percent water.

How strong are human bones?

Bones do break, but that’s a relative rarity because they’re so strong. On average, a human bone can withstand as much force as three times the body’s weight. The longest bone in the body is also the strongest bone, and that’s the femur, found in the upper leg. It’s about as strong as both granite and concrete.

For more amazing knowledge about the biological body, read Who Knew? Human Anatomy. It’s available now from Portable Press.

Источники информации:

• http://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/how-many-bones-can-you-find-in-the-human-body
• http://www.howmanyarethere.net/how-many-bones-are-there-in-the-human-body/
• http://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/13926864/how-many-bones-in-human-body/
• http://www.portablepress.com/blog/2019/09/no-bones-about-it-the-human-skeleton-is-fascinating/