Question

Anatomy Tutorial: Overview of the Human Skeleton

Answer 1

The human skeleton is:

- composed of 206 bones (in adults, children have more b/c their bones are smaller and fuse together during growth)
- divided into the axial and appendicular regions
- axial: contains skull, vertebra, sternum, ribs
- appendicular: contains pectoral girdle, girdles for the limbs, and the limbs themselves

Answer 2

\({\bf{The~Skull:}}\) is composed of the cranium (protects the brain) and the face. The jaw (mandible) is not attached to the skull.



The skull is supported by the vertebral column along the dorsal part of the body and connects to the thoracic cage. the thoracic cage, also called the rib cage, is composed of a three part sternum bone that connects to a set of ribs, in turn connecting to the vertebral column.

Answer 3

\({\bf{The~Pectoral~Girdle:}}\) is composed of the scapula and the clavicle (collar bone). It is the attachment site for the arm.

Answer 4

\({\bf{The~Arm:}}\) contains the upper bone (the humerus) which is attached to the two bones making up the forearm (the radius and the ulna). From the anatomical position on the skeleton's left arm (our right arm), the radius is on our right and the ulna is on our left.

Answer 5

\({\bf{The~Pelvic~Girdle:}}\) is composed of the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The structure in the center (covered in a later tutorial) is composed of the coccyx and the sacrum.



\({\bf{The~Leg:}}\) connects to the pelvic girdle. The upper bone is the femur; the kneecap is the patella; the two lower bones making up the calf region are the tibula and tibia. Using the left leg of the skeleton (our right) the tibia is on our left and the fibula is on the right.

Answer 6

\({\bf{The~Hands:}}\) are divided into the carpals (wrist), the metacarpals (distal from the wrist) and the phalanges (the finger bones)



\({\bf{The~Feet:}}\) are divided into the tarsals (ankles), the metacarpals (distal from the ankles) and the phalanges (the toe bones)

Answer 7

\({\bf{Types~of~Bones:}}\)

- flat bone (ex. the bones of the skull)
- sesamoid bone: small bones in tendons (ex. patella)
- long bone: elongated, rigid, used for movement (ex. femur)
- short bones: short (ex. bones in the hands/feet)
- irregular bone: (ex. vertebrae)

Answer 8

Anyway, that's the end of my tutorial, I hope it was a helpful resource. Source material is the Princeton Review Anatomy Workbook, 4th ed.