Bones in Your Body - An Overview

Human bones consist of connective tissue fortified with calcium and highly specialised bone cells, such as osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts. Every bone in the human skeleton comprises layers, each containing a particular type of bone tissue. These layers of bone tissue include the periosteum, compact tissue, cartilaginous tissue, and bone marrow.

The body constantly modifies the skeleton, adding new bone tissue when required and eliminating older bone tissue when no longer needed. A balanced diet, regular exercise that involves lifting weights, and the proper hormone levels are all necessary for healthy bone.

The body is held together and supported in its mobility by the bones, muscles, and joints. The skeleton protects sensitive interior organs, including the brain, heart, and lungs, while supporting and shaping the body. It is referred to as the musculoskeletal system.

Table of Contents

• Bones in Your Body
• Major Bones in the Human Body
• Various Types of Bones
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Bones in Your Body

The human skeleton has 206 bones, excluding sesamoid bones and teeth. The skull, hyoid, ribs, trunk, and sternum are the 80 axial bones that constitute the human body. Legs, hips, ankles, feet, shoulders, wrists, hands, and legs are among the 126 appendicular bones.

These bones support the motion while also providing structure and protection. The articulation of bones forms structures. The skull shapes the face while also protecting the brain. The thoracic cage protects the lungs and heart. 26 tiny bones constitute the vertebral column, also known as the spine. Then there are the girdles that connect the four limbs to the spine and the limbs (upper and lower).

Major Bones in the Human Body

There are 206 bones in the human skeleton, including the following:

• Skull: Cranium, Maxilla, and Mandible
• Spine: Sacrum, tailbone (coccyx), cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae
• Chest: Breastbone (sternum) and ribs
• Arms: Collar bone (clavicle), shoulder blade (scapula), radius, ulna, and humerus
• Hands: Phalanges, metacarpals, and wrist bones (carpals)
• Pelvis: Containing hip bones
• Legs: Femur (thigh bone), patella (kneecap), tibia (shin bone), and fibula
• Feet: Tarsals, phalanges, and metatarsals

The axial skeleton protects internal organs, while the appendicular skeleton’s bones help with movement. All skeletal elements are either part of the axial skeleton, which includes the girdles and limbs, or the appendicular skeleton (skull, thoracic cage, and vertebral column).

Various Types of Bones

The human skeleton involves various processes, including weight support and protection. Given their specific functions, different types of bones have different shapes. The human skeleton consists of five bone types: long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid.

Long Bones Help in Movement and Support Weight

Long bones serve to sustain the body’s weight and promote movement. Most long bones are found in the appendicular skeleton, including the lower limbs (such as the tibia, femur, fibula, metatarsals, and phalanges) and the upper limbs (the humerus, metacarpals, radius, ulna, and phalanges).

Cube-shaped Short Bones

Short bones usually have the same length and width. Short bones present in the ankle and wrist joints offer support and flexibility. They include the tarsals in the ankles (talus, calcaneus, cuboid, navicular, intermediate cuneiform, lateral cuneiform, and medial cuneiform) and the carpals in the wrist (lunate, scaphoid, hamate, triquetral, capitate, pisiform, and trapezium).

Flat Bones Protecting Internal Organs

The primary function of flat bones is protecting internal organs, including the heart, brain, and pelvic organs. Flat bones are relatively flattened and can act as a protection wall. They can also offer substantial areas for muscles to attach. Flat bones can be found in the skull (parietal, occipital, nasal, frontal, vomer, and lacrimal), thoracic cage (ribs and sternum), and pelvis (ischium, ilium, and pubis).

Irregular Bones with Complex Patterns

Irregular bones differ in form and structure; hence, they cannot be classified under any other category. They usually have a complex shape, which helps in protecting internal organs. For example, the irregular vertebrae of the vertebral column protect the spine. Organs in the pelvic cavity are protected by the irregular bones of the pelvis, pubis, ischium and ilium.

Sesamoid Bones Strengthen Tendons

Bones encased in tendons are known as sesamoid bones. The tendons of the wrists, knees and feet usually contain these small, spherical bones. The function of sesamoid bones is to cushion tendons from strain and abrasion. Sesamoid bones include the patella, also known as the kneecap.

Related Links:

• Human Skeletal System
• Facts about Skeletal System
• Skeletal Tissue Questions with Answers

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