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Front view of a skeleton of an adult human

Back view of a skeleton of an adult human

A typical adult human skeleton commonly consists of 206, 208 or more bones depending on the method used in counting. The count of 208 considers the sternum to be made up of three bones instead of one; manubrium, body of sternum also known as (gladiolus) and xiphoid process. Anatomical variation may also result in the formation of more or less bones. More common variations include cervical ribs or an additional lumbar vertebra. Babies are born with around 300 to 350 bones, many of which fuse together during growth.

In the skull (22):

• Cranial bones:
  • frontal bone
  • parietal bone (2)
  • temporal bone (2)
  • occipital bone
  • sphenoid bone
  • ethmoid bone
• Facial bones:
  • mandible
  • maxilla (2)
  • palatine bone (2)
  • zygomatic bone (2)
  • nasal bone (2)
  • lacrimal bone (2)
  • vomer bone
  • inferior nasal conchae (2)

In the middle ears (6):

• malleus (2)
• incus (2)
• stapes (2)

In the throat (1):

• hyoid bone

In the shoulder girdle (4):

• scapula or shoulder blade (2)
• clavicle or collarbone (2)

In the thorax (25 or 27):

• sternum
  • Can be considered as three bones; manubrium, body of sternum (gladiolus) and xiphoid process
• ribs (2 x 12)

In the vertebral column (24):

• cervical vertebrae (7)
• thoracic vertebrae (12)
• lumbar vertebrae (5)

In the arms (2):

• humerus (2)

In the forearms (4):

• radius (2)
• ulna (2)

In the hands (54):

• Carpal (wrist) bones:
  • scaphoid bone (2)
  • lunate bone (2)
  • triquetral bone (2)
  • pisiform bone (2)
  • trapezium (2)
  • trapezoid bone (2)
  • capitate bone (2)
  • hamate bone (2)
• Metacarpus (palm) bones:
  • metacarpal bones (5 × 2)
• Digits of the hand (finger bones or phalanges):
  • proximal phalanges (5 × 2)
  • intermediate phalanges (4 × 2)
  • distal phalanges (5 × 2)

In the pelvis (4):

• coccyx
• sacrum
• hip bone (innominate bone or coxal bone) (2)

In the thighs (2):

• femur (2)

In the legs (6):

• patella (2)
• tibia (2)
• fibula (2)

In the feet (52):

• Tarsal (ankle) bones:
  • calcaneus (heel bone) (2)
  • talus (2)
  • navicular bone (2)
  • medial cuneiform bone (2)
  • intermediate cuneiform bone (2)
  • lateral cuneiform bone (2)
  • cuboid bone (2)
• Metatarsus bones:
  • metatarsal bone (5 × 2)
• Digits of the foot (toe bones or phalanges):
  • proximal phalanges (5 × 2)
  • intermediate phalanges (4 × 2)
  • distal phalanges (5 × 2)

Wikipedia content modification information:

• This page was last modified on 29 September 2008, at 17:32.

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