More than 300 bones are present in newborn humans. Some of these bones eventually fuse as we age. In actuality, an adult will only have 206 bones overall. The axial skeleton contains 80 of the 206 bones found in the overall skeletal system. The appendicular skeleton contains the remaining 126 bones.

The 80 bones of the axial skeletal system can be distinguished as follows:

• The skull comprises 22 bones out of which 14 are facial bones and 8 are cranial.
• 6 middle ear ossicles (3 in each ear),
• 1 hyoid bone in the neck
• 26 bones of the vertebral column
• 1 sternum
• 24 ribs (12 pairs).

Skull Bones

These can be classified as follows:

Facial bones (14)

1. Nasal – 2
2. Inferior Nasal Concha – 2
3. Zygomatic – 2
4. Maxillary – 2
5. Palatine – 2
6. Lacrimal – 2
7. Vomer
8. Mandible

Cranial bones (8)

1. Frontal
2. Occipital
3. Sphenoid
4. Ethmoid
5. Parietal – 2
6. Temporal – 2

Auditory Ossicles (6)

1. Incus – 2
2. Stapes – 2
3. Malleus – 2

Along with these, the skull also includes a single hyoid bone (1).

Rib bones

The 24 rib bones (12 pairs) are as follows:

1. First 7 pairs of true ribs (Ribs 1 -7)
2. False Ribs (Ribs 8, 9 and 10)
3. Floating Ribs (Ribs 11 and 12)

Along with these, there is an unpaired sternum (1).

Vertebral Column

The 26 bones of the vertebral column include cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacrum and coccyx.

1. 7 Cervical vertebrae
2. 12 Thoracic vertebrae
3. 5 Lumbar vertebrae
4. Sacrum
5. Coccyx

All these 80 bones of the axial skeletal system protect and support the ventral body cavity organs in humans.

Stay tuned to BYJU’S NEET to learn more such exciting topics.

Also Check:

• Functions of Human Skeletal System
• Disorders of Bones
• List of Bones – Axial Skeleton
• Vertebrae in Human Body