206 Bones in the Adult Human Skeleton: Types & Overview

The number of bones in an adult human skeleton varies from person to person, but the average adult has 206 bones. These bones are divided into five main categories:

- Axial bones: These bones form the central axis of the body, including the skull, spine, and ribcage.

- Appendicular bones: These bones are attached to the axial bones and include the arms, legs, hands, and feet.

- Long bones: These are the long, cylindrical bones found in the limbs, such as the femur (thigh bone) and humerus (upper arm bone).

- Short bones: These are cube-shaped bones found in the wrists and ankles, such as the carpal bones and tarsal bones.

- Flat bones: These bones are thin, flat bones that form the skull and the ribcage, such as the cranium and the scapula (shoulder blade).