LEONARD V. DELEASA, DC, CCPCP
HUMAN SKELETON
General Anatomy
The axial skeleton
The 80 bones of the axial skeleton form the vertical axis of the body. They include the bones of the skull, spinal column, ribs, and sternum (breastbone). Of the 28 bones in the skull, 8 form the cranium that encases the brain; the rest are bones of the face, the ossicles of the middle ear, and the hyoid bone, which is suspended at the back of the jaw by muscles and a ligament and supports the base of the tongue.
The skull is attached to the top (superior end) of the spinal column, also called the spine or backbone. The spine has 33 vertebrae, stacked on one another to provide a flexible column that surrounds and protects the spinal cord. Arcing forward from the vertebrae are 12 pairs of ribs, most of which are attached at the front to the sternum, forming a protective cage (the rib-cage) around the heart and lungs.
Bones of the axial skeleton (80)
Skull (28)
Cranial bones
•Parietal (2)
•Temporal (2)
•Frontal (1)
•Occipital (1)
•Ethmoid (1)
•Sphenoid (1)
Facial bones
•Maxilla (2)
•Zygomatic (2)
•Mandible (1)
•Nasal (2)
•Palatine (2)
•Inferior nasal concha (2)
•Lacrimal (2)
•Vomer (1)
Auditory ossicles
•Malleus (2)
•Incus (2)
•Stapes (2)
Hyoid (1)
Spinal column
•Cervical vertebrae (7)
•Thoracic vertebrae (12)
•Lumbar vertebrae (5)
•Sacrum (1)
•Coccyx (1)
Thoracic cage
•Sternum (1)
•Ribs (24)
The appendicular skeleton
The appendicular skeleton consists of 126 bones and includes the two limb girdles – the pectoral girdle (or shoulder) and the pelvic girdle (or pelvis) – and their attached limb bones, which comprise the upper and lower extremities. The appendicular skeleton is joined to the axial skeleton at the two girdles.
The shoulders and upper limbs are made up of 64 bones. There are two bones in each shoulder: the clavicle (collarbone) and scapula (shoulder-blade); three in each arm – the humerus (upper-arm bone) and the radius and ulna (forearm bones); eight carpals in each wrist; five metacarpals in each palm; and 14 phalanges in the digits of each hand (two in each thumb and three in each finger).
The pelvic girdle consists of two innominate (hip) bones. There are 30 bones in each of the lower limbs: a femur (thigh-bone), a patella (kneecap), and tibia and fibula (lower-leg bones) in each leg; seven tarsals in the ankle, heel, and back part of the foot; five metatarsals in the middle of each foot; and 14 phalanges in the toes (two in each big toe and three in each other toe).
Bones of the appendicular skeleton (126)
Pectoral girdle
•Clavicle (2)
•Scapula (2)
Upper extremity
•Humerus (2)
•Radius (2)
•Ulna (2)
•Carpals (16)
•Metacarpals (10)
•Phalanges (28)
Pelvic girdle
•Coxal, innominate, or hip bones (2)
Lower extremity
•Femur (2)
•Tibia (2)
•Fibula (2)
•Patella (2)
•Tarsals (14)
•Metatarsals (10)
•Phalanges (28)
Function of the skeleton
The skeleton plays a crucial role in movement by providing a strong, stable but mobile framework on which the muscles can act. In effect, it consists of a series of independently movable internal levers on which the muscles can pull to move different parts of the body.
The skeleton also supports and protects body organs, notably the brain and spinal cord, which are encased in the skull and spine, and the heart and lungs, which are protected by the ribs. The ribs also make breathing possible by supporting the chest cavity so that the lungs are not compressed, and by helping in the breathing movements themselves.
The skeleton is not an inert frame, however. It is an active organ that produces blood cells formed in bone marrow and acts as a reservoir for minerals such as calcium, which can be drawn on, if required, by other parts of the body.
Differences between the male and female skeletons
There are only minor differences between the skeletons of men and women. In general, men's bones tend to be slightly larger and heavier than the corresponding bones in women. The female pelvic cavity is wider than that of the male to facilitate childbirth.
