10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy The Long and the Short of It: The Five Types of Bones ©2021 Visible Body Skull Rotate this 3D model of the skull to see that it is made up of 22 bones. Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email SUBSCRIBE When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 1/8 10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy The human skeleton has a number of functions, such as protection and supporting weight. Different types of bones have differing shapes related to their particular function. So, what are the different types of bones? How are they categorized? There are five types of bones in the skeleton: flat, long, short, irregular, and sesamoid. Let’s go through each type and see examples. 1. Flat Bones Protect Internal Organs Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email SUBSCRIBE When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 2/8 10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy There are flat bones in the skull (occipital, parietal, frontal, nasal, lacrimal, and vomer), the thoracic cage (sternum and ribs), and the pelvis (ilium, ischium, and pubis). The function of flat bones is to protect internal organs such as the brain, heart, and pelvic organs. Flat bones are somewhat flattened, and can provide protection, like a shield; flat bones can also provide large areas of attachment for muscles. 2. Long Bones Support Weight and Facilitate Movement Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email SUBSCRIBE When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 3/8 10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy The long bones, longer than they are wide, include the femur (the longest bone in the body) as well as relatively small bones in the fingers. Long bones function to support the weight of the body and facilitate movement. Long bones are mostly located in the appendicular skeleton and include bones in the lower limbs (the tibia, fibula, femur, metatarsals, and phalanges) and bones in the upper limbs (the humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals, and phalanges). 3. Short Bones Are Cube-shaped Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email SUBSCRIBE When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 4/8 10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy Short bones are about as long as they are wide. Located in the wrist and ankle joints, short bones provide stability and some movement. The carpals in the wrist (scaphoid, lunate, triquetral, hamate, pisiform, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium) and the tarsals in the ankles (calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuboid, lateral cuneiform, intermediate cuneiform, and medial cuneiform) are examples of short bones. 4. Irregular Bones Have Complex Shapes Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email SUBSCRIBE When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 5/8 10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy Irregular bones vary in shape and structure and therefore do not fit into any other category (flat, short, long, or sesamoid). They often have a fairly complex shape, which helps protect internal organs. For example, the vertebrae, irregular bones of the vertebral column, protect the spinal cord. The irregular bones of the pelvis (pubis, ilium, and ischium) protect organs in the pelvic cavity. 5. Sesamoid Bones Reinforce Tendons Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email SUBSCRIBE When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 6/8 10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy Sesamoid bones are bones embedded in tendons. These small, round bones are commonly found in the tendons of the hands, knees, and feet. Sesamoid bones function to protect tendons from stress and wear. The patella, commonly referred to as the kneecap, is an example of a sesamoid bone. See more from our free eBook library External Sources A description of types of bones from the 1918 edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body. Some more bone basics from Better Health Channel (a publication of the Department of Health, State Government of Victoria, Australia). Visible Body Web Suite offers thousands of models to help understand and communicate how the human body looks and works. Related Articles An Overview of the Skeletal System Axial Skeleton - Appendicular Skeleton Joints and Ligaments Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email Skeletal System Pathologies SUBSCRIBE Glossary When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 7/8 10/02/2022, 11:23 Types of Bones | Learn Skeleton Anatomy For students For instructors About News Contact ©2022 Visible Body. All Rights Reserved. User Agreement Privacy Permissions Get our awesome anatomy emails! Your email SUBSCRIBE When you select "Subscribe" you will start receiving our email newsletter. Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. See our privacy policy for additional details. https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/skeleton/types-of-bones 8/8
