How Many Bones Are There In The Human Body?

In the adult human body, there are a total of 206 bones. However, at birth, a child’s body contains approximately 270 smaller bones. As the child grows, these smaller bones gradually fuse to form the larger bones, ultimately reducing the total count to 206. The human skeleton is divided into two main parts: the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton consists of 80 bones, while the appendicular skeleton comprises 126 bones. This article provides a detailed overview of the human skeleton, the types of bones, and their functions.

What is the Skeleton?

The skeleton is the structural framework that supports the body in animals. In humans, the skeleton includes different bones that make up the skull, spine, chest, arms, hands, pelvis, legs, and feet. The human skeleton can be classified into two types:

Axial Skeleton

The axial skeleton supports the central core of the body, which includes the head, neck, back, and chest bones. It consists of a total of 80 bones, which can be further classified into:

• Skull: Protects the brain and forms the structure of the face.
• Hyoid: A U-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue.
• Vertebrae: The bones that form the spine.
• Ribs and Sternum: Protect the organs in the thoracic cavity.

Appendicular Skeleton

The appendicular skeleton comprises the bones of the upper and lower extremities, including the arms, legs, shoulder girdle, and pelvic girdle. This skeleton consists of 126 bones and is responsible for movement and various functions of the body. The key components include:

• Upper Limbs: Humerus, radius, ulna, and bones of the hand.
• Lower Limbs: Femur, tibia, fibula, and bones of the foot.
• Shoulder Girdle: Scapula and clavicle.
• Pelvic Girdle: Ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Types of Bones in Human Body

There are four types of bones in the human body. These types of bones are classified on the density of bone, such as:

Classification of Bones in Human Body Parts

As humans grow, the 270 bones present at birth gradually fuse, resulting in 206 bones in adulthood. These bones are distributed across different parts of the body as follows:

Classification of Bones in Human Body Parts

With time 270 bones fuse together and later form into 206 bones in the adult human body. These 206 bones are classified on different parts of the body (whole body). These body are:

1. Head
2. Chest
3. Spine
4. Body pelvis
5. Upper limb
6. Lower limb

Refer to the table below to get a reference of different bones and the number of bones in each body part:

How Many Bones are There in the Human Body? – FAQs