The skeletal system is the body’s framework, consisting of bones and connective tissues. Its primary functions include:

1. Support: Providing structural support for the entire body, maintaining its shape, and enabling posture.
2. Movement: Facilitating movement by serving as points of attachment for muscles. Bones act as levers, and joints function as pivots.
3. Protection: Safeguarding vital organs. For example, the skull protects the brain, and the ribcage shields the heart and lungs.
4. Mineral Storage: Storing essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which can be released into the bloodstream as needed.
5. Blood Cell Production: Housing bone marrow, which produces red and white blood cells and platelets.
6. Energy Storage: Storing lipids in yellow bone marrow, which can serve as an energy reserve.

The human skeleton is divided into two main parts:

• Axial Skeleton: Includes the skull, vertebral column, and ribcage.
• Appendicular Skeleton: Comprises the limbs and girdles (shoulder bones and pelvic bones) that connect them to the axial skeleton.

In adults, the human skeleton consists of 206 bones, while infants have approximately 270 bones, some of which fuse together as they grow.

Bones

Here is an alphabetic list of all the bones in an adult human skeleton:

Calcaneus (2)

Capitate (2)

Cervical vertebrae (7)

Clavicle (2)

Coccyx (1)

Cuboid (2)

Cuneiforms (medial, intermediate, lateral) (6)

Ethmoid (1)

Femur (2)

Fibula (2)

Frontal (1)

Hamate (2)

Humerus (2)

Hyoid (1)

Ilium (2)

Incus (2)

Inferior nasal concha (2)

Ischium (2)

Lacrimal (2)

Lunate (2)

Lumbar vertebrae (5)

Mandible (1)

Malleus (2)

Maxilla (2)

Metacarpals (10)

Metatarsals (10)

Nasal (2)

Navicular (2)

Occipital (1)

Palatine (2)

Parietal (2)

Patella (2)

Phalanges (28 in hands, 28 in feet) (56)

Pisiform (2)

Pubis (2)

Radius (2)

Ribs (24 total, 12 pairs)

Sacrum (1)

Scaphoid (2)

Scapula (2)

Sphenoid (1)

Stapes (2)

Sternum (1)

Talus (2)

Temporal (2)

Thoracic vertebrae (12)

Tibia (2)

Trapezium (2)

Trapezoid (2)

Triquetrum (2)

Ulna (2)

Vomer (1)

Zygomatic (2)

Adding up to a total of 206 bones.

Bones by Body Section

Here’s the breakdown of bones by body section:

Skull (22 bones)

Cranial Bones (8)

Frontal (1)

Parietal (2)

Occipital (1)

Temporal (2)

Sphenoid (1)

Ethmoid (1)

Facial Bones (14)

Maxilla (2)

Zygomatic (2)

Nasal (2)

Lacrimal (2)

Palatine (2)

Inferior nasal concha (2)

Vomer (1)

Mandible (1)

Auditory Ossicles (6 bones)

Malleus (2)

Incus (2)

Stapes (2)

Hyoid Bone (1 bone)

Vertebral Column (26 bones)

Cervical vertebrae (7)

Thoracic vertebrae (12)

Lumbar vertebrae (5)

Sacrum (1) – fused from 5 sacral vertebrae

Coccyx (1) – fused from 4 coccygeal vertebrae

Thoracic Cage (25 bones)

Sternum (1)

Ribs (24) – 12 pairs

Pectoral Girdle (4 bones)

Clavicle (2)

Scapula (2)

Upper Limbs (60 bones)

Humerus (2)

Radius (2)

Ulna (2)

Carpals (16) – 8 per wrist (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate)

Metacarpals (10) – 5 per hand

Phalanges (28) – 14 per hand (proximal, middle, distal)

Pelvic Girdle (2 bones)

Hip bones (coxal bones) (2)

Lower Limbs (60 bones)

Femur (2)

Patella (2)

Tibia (2)

Fibula (2)

Tarsals (14) – 7 per ankle (calcaneus, talus, navicular, medial cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform, cuboid)

Metatarsals (10) – 5 per foot

Phalanges (28) – 14 per foot (proximal, middle, distal)

This totals to 206 bones in the adult human body.

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